Saturday, November 19, 2016

Missing My Assassin by CJ Burright

For most people, November means Thanksgiving and family. For the writers, it might also be about Nano WriMo. For me, November also equals Assassin’s Creed. At least, it had for the last eight years.
 

I work full-time and write on the side, so my free time is nonexistent. But in 2007 for Christmas my fabulous hubby gave me a Playstation and the first Assassin’s Creed game. He’s smart. I love swords and all things medieval, so yep. I was hooked, and every year since, smart hubby brings me the newest Assassin’s Creed on release day, Christmas or not. For the month of November, chores are left undone. Writing slows to a snail crawl. Dinner? Grab a box of cereal, people.

Except for this year.


No new game. Ubisoft says, “It will be back when it’s ready.” People are guessing 2017, but all I know is…moping, whining, and longing to play an assassin. To be fair, fans aren’t completely let down. There’s a new Ezio collection out this week and an Assassin’s Creed movie out in December. Even so, I’m longing for my new game!

So, in honor of my Assassin’s Creed yearning, I'm celebrating a few of my favorite literary assassins.


Kylar Stern from the Night Angel series by Brent Weeks. I loved, loved, LOVED Kylar. We get to grow up with him, watch him change from starving street rat to the best assassin ever. Yet, he holds onto his compassion and honor somehow, and never stops hoping for a better future. The moment he finds love and realizes he’s accepted as is…sigh. This series is one of my all-time favorites.


Celaena from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I haven’t read the entire series yet, but Celaena is one tough chickie. She’s survived a year of slavery in the salt mines and is selected to enter a competition to become the king’s assassin. She rocks. While she’s snarky and testy (understandably so), she still manages to see goodness in the people she once thought of as enemies, and she’s not afraid to fight for the people she cares for. Another assassin with honorable shards. Must be a theme. J

Vitala Salonius from Assassin’s Gambit by Amy Raby. Vitala was also groomed from childhood to become an assassin. She believes in her cause and will do whatever it takes for the resistance to gain the upper hand. She’s smart, talented, and doesn’t believe in love…until her target knocks her socks off. Nothing better than an assassin falling for her target.


So there are three of my favorite assassins. Who’s your favorite, and if you’re an Assassin’s Creed fan feeling the pain, please feel free to join in my woe.

12 comments:

Elizabeth Alsobrooks said...

Sorry no Creed this year, C.J.! My kids used to play WOW and the only way I could get their attention was to log in and "live chat" them in game. Next thing you know...all those warriors and wizards and warlocks and blood elves... I get where you're coming from! Loved your literary Assassins as well!

CJ Burright said...

Hahaha! That's awesome that you'd live chat to get your kids' attention. I have to stick to only one video game a year. Otherwise, I might become one of those people who do nothing else with their spare time. Have a great Saturday!

Unknown said...

I love the Throne of Glass series! Sarah J. Maas is one of my favorite authors. I had a tough time getting through The Way of Shadows, not entirely sure why. I think it was just bad timing so I intend to give it another try at some point. I have yet to read Assassin's Gambit, but I am moving it up my list now!

Anna Nichols said...

My favorite assassin is Nykyrian Quick ides from Born Of Night By Sherrilyn Kenyon! Now from what I understand about her League series books is that the first three were written in the 90's and busted up to not look like a series complete with name changes and timeline differences. She got them back and made them as cohesive as possible, and the whole series is awesome! But the reason I love Nykyrian a.k.a. Nyk, is because even years of following orders didn't kill his inner goodness. He saves a street rat named Sin and sends him to school. On his last mission he refuses to kill a mother and child and instead saves them, takes out and destroys his tracking chip, then goes to see Singapore who's now a doctor. They set up a secret identity for Nyk: NEMISIS, the biggest, baddest assassin to ever live who gives the League a big F.U. by killing every assassin they've ever sent after him. And when he finds love, oh boy, you've gotta read it! So far, Sherrilyn has been filling out the stories in the first generation and plans on adding a second generation, the first generations kids. I highly recommend the series!

Unknown said...

I hate my spellchecker sometimes! It's Nykyrian Quiakides. I don't know why spellchecker does that!

Unknown said...

I hate my spellchecker sometimes! It's Nykyrian Quiakides. I don't know why spellchecker does that!

Diane Burton said...

This is fascinating. My favorite film assassin is James Bond. In books, I think Robin LeFevers' His Fair Assassin series is intriguing. Teen girls trained to be assassins in 15th century France.

Hope a new Assassins' Creed arrives soon!

CJ Burright said...

Ah, Kelsi - Way of Shadows starts out rough, and not just emotionally, but it's SO worth sticking through until Kylar starts training as an assassin. It's definitely not a story for the fainthearted. So glad you stopped by!

CJ Burright said...

Dang it, Anna! Now I REALLY want to read the League series! You're not the only one who has raved about it. More books to add to my TBR list! :)

CJ Burright said...

I haven't heard of the Fair Assassins series, Diane. But I'll be checking it out now! Thanks for the sympathy. :)

Anna (herding cats-burning soup) said...

Oh no! That's no fun! Hope it happens sooner than a year from now :(

I have Weeks books on my shelf. I need more hours to read!

CJ Burright said...

I think hubby is coming through with a consolation video game...he's cool like that. :) Ah, I so hear you on the reading time! I'll never, ever, ever catch up with my TBR list, which is a good problem to have.