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  • King of Assassins

  • The Wounded Kingdom, Book 3
  • By: RJ Barker
  • Narrated by: Joe Jameson
  • Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (164 ratings)

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King of Assassins

By: RJ Barker
Narrated by: Joe Jameson
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Summary

***Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker!***

'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING . . .

Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc, years of relative calm for the assassin Girton Club-Foot. Even the Forgetting Plague, which ravaged the rest of the kingdoms, seemed to pass them by. But now Rufra ap Vthyr eyes the vacant High-King's throne and will take his court to the capital, a rat's nest of intrigue and murder, where every enemy he has ever made will gather and the endgame of twenty years of politics and murder will be played out in his bid to become the King of all Kings.

Friends become enemies, enemies become friends and the god of death, Xus the Unseen, stands closer than ever - casting his shadow over everything most dear to Girton.

Praise for this trilogy

'Outstanding . . . Kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning'
James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost

'Dead gods, dread magic, and a lead that feels like a breath of fresh air. Great fun'
Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant

'Readers will appreciate Barker's complex mythology and smoothly flowing plot'
Publishers Weekly

'Riddled with intrigue and dangerous magic, this is a hugely enjoyable debut'
Jennifer Williams, author of The Copper Promise

'A dark-humoured game of cat and mouse between assassins, with traitors on all sides'
David Dalglish, author of the Shadowdance series

The Wounded Kingdom trilogy begins with AGE OF ASSASSINS, continues with BLOOD OF ASSASSINS and concludes with KING OF ASSASSINS.

©2018 RJ Barker (P)2018 Hachette Audio UK
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Critic reviews

Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

'Outstanding . . . Kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning'

James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost

'Readers will appreciate Barker's complex mythology and smoothly flowing plot'

Publishers Weekly

What listeners say about King of Assassins

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Simply brilliant

Fantastic end to a brilliant trilogy, loved ever moment following all the characters through their journey.

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beware, my book started on chapter 23!

Great series and narration, really enjoyed apart from the fact that the download was mixed up.and started half way thru.. I tried to work out, but there was nothing to warn me or explain.. I thought maybe all would.be explained but was very disappointed when I got to then end at chapter 25 of 48!

Nothing wrong with the story, but Audible, take more care!

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Brilliant story

Really enjoyed the series and has surprising twists and turns. The build up to the final part is fantastic and to find out the plot is only till the very end.

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Absolutely Brilliant.

Dead gods that was bloody brilliant, that ending has me sad and happy at the same time. Utterly and truly satisfying conclusion to the Wounded Land series, I absolutely love how RJ Barker has brought such a complex story to an end, Oh the writing and storytelling is just beautiful. There is a completeness and circularity that I find perfect. I said in a review of Age of Assassins that not a word was wasted and it’s true. A seemingly chance remark, a passing scene or observation from the first book come to fruition in King of Assassins and it’s excellent. I’m in awe of that level of detail and plotting. You need to Read these books now. I’ll will be definitely revisiting them, they really demand another reading in the near future. The connection you get with the characters is surreal, I loved Girton the main protagonist but the Character that really grew with me and absolutley loved was Aydor. He was a little bollox in the first book and the turn around in his character from being a spoilt heir to a truly lovable big bollox. In the final book set sixteen years later, a high king must be chosen. All have come to Ceadoc from all over, King Rufra ap Vthyr has brought his whole court with him to where his enemies still vy for his blood. With dark magic, secrets, vengeance and blood to be spilt, Girton Club-Foot is Rufra's man, his blade and must do all he can to keep the knives from his back.
You get a real sense this was well planned through from the first to the last book and it absolutely comes full circle. The narration by Joe Jameson is excellent true out the whole series. If you love a tragic beautiful story, then I highly recommend..💙🔥😁

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Quality throughout

A perfect end to a trilogy by not having a perfect ending to the story.

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Brilliant Conclusion

I listened to Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins back to back. Any and every opportunity I had to listen was not wasted. Totally gripping. Moving forward 15 years between the two books is jarring for a few minutes but soon the story drags headlong into the plot. You cannot help but like Girton. Although older and wiser he is still very prone to making mistakes and jumping to the wrong conclusions. There is also a friendship you'd not expect but you feel it's strength throughout the story. As with the other books in the series you never know where the plot will take you - the twists are many but they never feel forced or convoluted. Its a murder mystery in a fantasy realm. There's magic but it's incidental as well as crucial to the story (as much as that may seem counter-intuitive). The ending is as satisfying as you hope and, as with all the best stories, leaves you wanting more.

Joe Jameson has the gift of bringing life to the characters and purpose to the story, you're hooked on what he's saying and how he's saying it. I have no idea how much input, if any, the author has on the way the narrator reads but it feels as if they have worked together to present this great story. As much as a story should be the driving factor on whether I choose to listen/read a book, if Joe Jameson is the narrator it will count in the book's favour.

Read/listen to this trilogy, they're excellent.

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Fantastic conclusion

Really good trilogy that, unlike most, improves with each book. The characters are very well developed and truly become endeared to the reader. Most highly recommended with the wish that the trilogy continues....with Joe Jameson escorting us along the way.

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Fantastic trilogy

It’s been a while that I’ve been so gripped by a great story and so brilliantly told. Just listen. You won’t regret it.

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Wow

Truly an astounding book it made me laugh and cry this is an amazing book

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Good

These books are very entertaining. However the interludes are boring and they keep coming up just when things are getting good.

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