The Carnival of Mysteries multi author series has another book, this one, Assassin by Accident, from E.J. Russell.
From the blurb:
If a megalomaniacal earth mage kidnaps your little sister, do you:
A) Kill him
B) Kill him
C) Kill him
D) Magically indenture yourself to him to ensure her safe return
Welsh water horse Nevan Quirke would have happily opted for A, B, or C, but had no idea where his sister was hidden—so, option D it is. He’s not a fool, though. He made sure to limit his obligation to a single task.
Unfortunately, he neglected to nail down a few tiny details before the geas brand was seared into his skin, and now:
A) He can’t shift
B) He can’t swim
C) He can’t drink
D) If he fails, he’ll be bound to the mage for eternity
Oh, and that task? Assist in an assassination.
If only he weren’t so thirsty.
And if only his partner for the heinous job weren’t the most appealing man Nevan has seen in his entire two-thousand-year life.
Assassin by Accident takes place in E.J. Russell’s Mythmatched universe and is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book features grumpy/sunshiny, hurt/comfort, mistaken identity, opposites attract, unexpected derring-do, and of course an HEA—no matter how little the men in question think they deserve it.
Jacquie's Review:
As expected, I loved every minute of Assassin by Accident. It has rich world-building, fleshed out characters, and a detailed plot.
It is set in the Quest Investigations world, and though it would be helpful to read those, it isn't necessary.
The romance between Seb and Nevan was very sweet and a slow burn. Don't expect any heat on page aside from some kisses. I actually liked that there weren't any steamy scenes because I liked how Seb cared for Nevan, making sure his needs were met. He's very much an acts of service love language person.
This book sets up a spin off and I am here for it!
Rating: 5 Stars
Angel's Review:
I.. don't know how to feel about this book. When I read the description, I was very excited to read this. When I started reading the book, though, Nevan had already struck a deal with the earth mage and I was left wondering what happened. I know some books start that way and then, throughout the story, the author will fill in the blanks. And while that technically did happen here, it was a very confusing journey. It could just be me that kept getting confused, but the way this book was written kept leaving me wondering what was going on... It took me a while to get into the groove of this story, which frustrated me mainly because I adored the main characters, along with all the side characters. The characters themselves I adored and really enjoyed reading about, but the way the story was written kept leaving me confused.
However, about halfway through the book, certain events got explained, and I was finally able to fully immerse myself into this world. And once that happened, I truly enjoyed the story! What I truly appreciate is that while this is a mm romance book, it's very light on the spice. I would even consider calling this a YA book cause there aren't any steamy or spicy scenes. Are there mentions of it? Yes. But there are no scenes that are depicted in the story. You could still feel the care and love these two men had for one another, even though they had only just met. I absolutely adored Seb. He took everything in stride and stayed so calm. I don't know if I would've been as calm as he was when he kept getting more and more information thrown at him. Through it all, he remained calm and levelheaded, and made sure he kept Nevan as healthy as he could.
Overall, this was a decent story with a very unique curse!
Rating: 4 Stars
Holly's Review:
Flawed, but loveable mythical characters.
Exemplary world-building.
Sweetness, snark, and humor.
An array of magical creatures, each with an important role to play.
Grumpy/Sunshine.
Yearning.
A plot with twists and turns.
A happily ever after.
This book has it all and more. I was spellbound from page one and couldn't put it down until I'd reached the very satisfactory ending.
I genuinely can't believe I've never stumbled on this author before, but I have already hit Amazon in a buying frenzy to remedy this immediately.
If you want me, I'll be in a corner reading every word this author has created, and if you’re wondering if you should give this book a read… yes, all the yesses.
Rating: 5 Stars
Assassin by Accident is available to buy as an ebook, audiobook, or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.
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