Review: Tangled Web

Title: Tangled Web
Series: The Deizian Empire, #1
Author: Crista McHugh
Publisher: Entangled Select
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Pages: 352
Buy Links: Amazon (Paperback) | Amazon (Kindle)

Blurb:

The deadliest assassin in the empire just got too close to her target…

Azurha, a former slave turned deadliest assassin in the empire, has just been offered the ultimate challenge—seduce, then murder the new Emperor. But Titus is not the tyrant his forefathers were, and his radical ideas might be the glimmer of hope the empire needs.

Titus Sergius Flavus has yet to master the powerful magic of his ancestors—magic he must wield if he’s to protect his people—but his father’s death has left him no choice. Rule the Deizian Empire and attempt to right his ancestors’ wrongs, or watch her fall to his greedy kin.

More than just Titus’ ideas hold Azurha captive. Night after night, he awakens desires she thought lost, and uncovers the magic of her hidden lineage. As her deadline approaches, Azurha is forced to make an impossible decision—complete her job and kill the man she loves, or fail and forfeit both their lives.

Review

One of the best books I've read this year!

I haven't found many books this year that caused me to have a headache for reading too much. I found that this book was so good, I just couldn't put it down, despite my eyes being so tired.

Azurha and Titus were such a gem together. Titus was so gentle, so respectful, and so noble towards Azurha that I fell in love with him from the beginning of the book. He was very naive, though. If Azurha didn't fall for him, he would have been dead within their first time alone.

One frustrating thing about the book was the time it took for Azurha to tell her secret. I was so frustrated waiting for her to just spit it out already. Of course she'd wait until she was almost dying to reveal it. Women. They are usually unsuspected of crimes, but when it comes down to it, they're still women, talking in riddles and driving men to madness :)

This book was quite long but every page was worth reading. I love the well-developed characters of Varro, Galerius, and Marcus. I also enjoyed the names of Titus's bath pools. Quite entertaining how they were named based on their temperature: TEPIDarium, FRIGIDarium, CALDarium :)

Overall, I think Crista McHugh just earned her spot in my favorite authors list. I most definitely recommend adding this book in your MUST-READ list.