This post is nearly late, and for that I apologize. I ended up biting off a bit more than I could chew between the A-Z Challenge, Camp NaNo, unexpected real life complications (really, when are those ever expected?), and this.

The good news is that I’ve finally finished reading the book! About 30 minutes ago…

So, onto the book! 

Summary:

Save the girl…or his soul?

Crusader is numb. He feels neither emotion nor pain, a divine gift that allows him to be the Ministrix’s best assassin.

Whether it’s heretics from within or heathens from without, Crusader is the sword in the True Church’s hand. And if he remains obedient to his superiors, he will be able to let go of his guilt.

But then he’s ordered to kill Isolda Westin. It shouldn’t be a problem. A target is a target. When Crusader sees Isolda’s image, though, something strange happens. He experiences a moment of panic, a wave of emotions–the first he’s felt in as long as he can remember.

In that moment, he realizes he can’t fulfill his mission. He can’t kill Isolda Westin, even if it means he’ll be condemned as an enemy of the Ministrix.

Soon Crusader and Isolda are on the run. Will they be able to learn why the Ministrix wants Isolda dead? Or will they both soon face the harsh justice of the “True Church”?

My Review:

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I must admit that I’ve never read a book like this – it was a fresh twist on a well-used (but not necessarily overdone) theme. And it was a refreshingly well-written book, and every time I can relax and lose myself in a book without having ridiculous typos and grammatical errors yank me out of the story.

You think, from the summary, that you know where the story is going – but the summary is deceptively simple for the twists and turns this plot takes. Even I – dubbed a plot genius (still not completely sure about this personally) among my local writer friends – did not see the final twist to this story.

Crusader, for all his lack of emotion through much of the book (which is explained by the end of the story), is an endearing character. The very subtle romance between him and Isolda is refreshing.

The only character I felt any true… not dislike, but frustration, I guess, was the leader at The Catacombs. Sometimes her exhortations came across as pushing a pacifist lifestyle just a little too preachy. It didn’t quite ring true to the way her character reacted the rest of the time, but it wasn’t enough to turn me off the story. Just enough to make me roll my eyes at her.

But overall, I very much enjoyed the worldbuilding in this book, the characters, and the obstacles they overcome. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction.

Please visit JohnWOtte.com for more information about him and his writing.

The other CSFF April Tour participants are:

Julie Bihn
Jennifer Bogart
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Pauline Creeden
Vicky DealSharingAunt
Carol Gehringer
Victor Gentile
Rebekah Gyger
Nikole Hahn
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emileigh Latham
Jennette Mbewe
Amber McCallister
Shannon McDermott
Shannon McNear
Meagan @ Blooming with Books
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Joan Nienhuis
Nissa
Faye Oygard
Writer Rani
Nathan Reimer
Jojo Sutis
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Shane Werlinger
Phyllis Wheeler
Nicole White