Poison Dance (Midnight Thief #0.5) - Review

Poison Dance (Midnight Thief #0.5)

By: Livia Blackburne

Published: September 12, 2013 by Lion's Quill Press

Novella, 84 pages

Source: Personal Kindle Library (FREEBIE)

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:

James is skilled, efficient, and deadly, a hired blade navigating the shifting alliances of a deteriorating Assassin’s Guild. Then he meets Thalia, an alluring but troubled dancing girl who offers him a way out—if he’ll help her kill a powerful nobleman. With the Guild falling apart, it just might be worth the risk. But when you live, breathe, and love in a world that’s forever flirting with death, the slightest misstep can be poison. 

MY REVIEW:
I read Midnight Thief first and my interest in James, who turns out to be one of the villain's of the story, was so great I just happened to look to see when the next book was coming out and found that there was a novella about him that was FREE. I'm not a huge fan of novellas, generally speaking, but when a character peaks my interest enough to know more about their back story than I find them to be quite helpful.

James became a member of the Assassin's Guild at the age of 15. He was young, and still had a conscience that was bothered by the shedding of blood. He hated to have the blood of someone else drying on his hands. But killing is part of the job description in the Assassin's Guild and in time he became hardened to it.

This novella is a further glimpse into James and Thalia, a girl who is mentioned in Midnight Thief. It is eluded there that James had a relationship with Thalia. So of course, I wanted to know more about what happened between them. This story takes place 10 years after James first got involved with the Assassin's Guild. Their leader has just been murdered and the second in command to rise up to be the leader wants James out of the way. Thalia wants revenge against someone and she seeks James out to help her.

Favorite Quotes:
"Risk is everywhere. Only the nobles have the luxury of a long easy life. Justice, vengeance, the ability to carve out your own fate instead of being herded like an animal. Sometimes it's worth dying for."

Final Rating - 4 stars