The Darkest Assassin

Fox is a demon-possessed immortal with many talents.Ability to open portals—checkPower to kill the most dangerous Sent Ones—checkScare away any man who might want to date her—mateNow, the keeper of Distrust has been marked for death, a winged assassin with rainbow-colored eyes tracking her every move, determined to avenge the males she accidentally decimated. If only she could control the desire to rip off his clothes…
Bjorn is a fierce warrior with many complications.Tragic, torture-filled past—checkA wife he was forced to wed, who is draining his life force—checkEver-intensifying desire for the enigmatic Fox—mateNever has he hesitated to exterminate an evil being. Until now. The sharp-tongued female with a shockingly vulnerable heart tempts him in ways no one else ever has, threatening his iron control.
But, as Fate itself seems to conspire against the unlikely pair, both old and new enemies emerge. And Fox and Bjorn must fight to survive.
And learn to love…

Readers who read Gena’s spin-off series of LOTU, Angels of Dark, will recognize the MMC, Bjorn, immediately in The Darkest Assassin. Here was one reader who was ecstatic to know Bjorn was getting his book, especially after Gena left us spiraling with what happened to him. I needed his book and was happy to know he was going to end up with someone like Fox.

If you are new to the series, you could technically read this novella and not feel left out on what you missed from the other books in the series. It’s a good introduction, but I definitely recommend reading LOTU from the beginning and also reading the Angels of Dark series, where Bjorn is first introduced. Readers who have read the LOTU/AOD series get another additional book to the series, which is always a plus.  

The FMC, Fox, is possessed by the demon Distrust, and when the demon takes over, she doesn’t have control over what she does, and now the Sent Ones want her dead. Bjorn is tasked to kill her, but instead, he holds her captive, and the more he gets to know her, the more he questions his assignment. 

I loved getting to know Bjorn finally through his POV because I had only known through other POVs from the Angels of Dark series. He’s been through a lot, especially with being forced into a marriage he didn’t want and not being able to get out of it. I was curious about how Fox was going to play into this, but I knew Gena was going to use her writing magic to make things happen so that Bjorn could have a HEA. 

I really liked Fox, and I didn’t doubt I wouldn’t because Gena always writes kickbutt and sassy heroines, and Fox was no different. She was perfect for Bjorn in every way because she wasn’t going to make it easy for him. She was making him question his duty of killing her the whole time while also fighting his attraction. Yes, this has the Enemies to Lovers storyline, and Gena knows how to write this trope so well. 

I give this novella five stars, and I’m so glad I finally made time to read it. If you haven’t read this series, you are missing out. Get to it! 

Story Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Steam/Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the LOTU series but can be read as a standalone for readers wanting an introduction to the series. 

Would I recommend this novella? Yes, definitely.

Genre/SubGenre(s): Romance | Paranormal Romance

Trope(s)/Element(s): Fated Mates | Enemies to Lovers | I Was Sent to Kill You | Angels | Demons

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About Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of nearly 100 novels. Most stories fall under the genre of romance, be they paranormal, fantasy, contemporary, or young adult. She’s also co-authored a (delightfully quirky) cozy mystery series as well as a nonfiction guide about how to write a book in a year.

Gena is a dedicated mother, grandmother, and fur-mom. A woman under construction, whose life took a few unexpected turns the past few years. But she’s learned a lot and firmly believes her best days are ahead of her, not behind her. Chances are good she’s writing her next novel and already in love with the hero.

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FranJessca

Owner/Reviewer at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog

I guess I should type a bio here. I'm FranJessca, or Fran for short. I'm the owner/reviewer behind A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog. I've been reading and reviewing books on my blog since leaving the Navy in 2011, and I will keep doing it as long as possible. My favorite genres will always be Romance & Fantasy, and I read every subgenre underneath those two genres. (Sorry, not a fan of nonfiction, so don't try to convince me to read it.)
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)

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