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When a young apprentice to an assassin is blackmailed to protect the crown prince, he becomes embroiled in a conspiracy that could destroy an entire kingdom in a brilliant epic fantasy debut by David Gemmell Award-nominated author RJ Barker

Girton Club-foot has no family, a crippled leg, and is apprenticed to the best assassin in the land. He’s learning the art of taking lives, but his latest mission tasks him with a far more difficult challenge: to save a life.

Someone is trying to kill the heir to the throne, and it is up to Girton to uncover the traitor and prevent the prince’s murder.

In a kingdom on the brink of civil war and a castle thick with lies, Girton finds friends he never expected, responsibilities he never wanted, and a conspiracy that could destroy an entire kingdom.

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The Wounded Kingdom

"Outstanding. Beautifully written, perfectly paced and assured. Kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning. A wonderful first book -- a wonderful book, period -- that should be at the very top of your to-read list."
James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost
"Dead gods, dread magic, and a lead that feels like a breath of fresh air. Great fun."
Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant
"Often poignant and always intriguing, Age of Assassins reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller."
Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wild
"Simply unputdownable ... the perfect mix of fantasy and mystery."
Fantasy Book Review
"With an original, immersive world that wouldn't let me go and a pair of assassins worth rooting for, Age of Assassins is a pleasure to read. I can't wait for more!"
Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage
"A dark-humored game of cat and mouse between assassins with traitors on all sides."
David Dalglish, author of the Shadowdance series
"Age of Assassins builds a compelling fantasy world and peoples it with characters you can care about. Riddled with intrigue and dangerous magic, this is a hugely enjoyable debut."
Jennifer Williams, author of The Copper Promise
"Age of Assassins is a beguiling story of action and intrigue combined with a poignancy and humor that are as sharp as any blade."
Jon Skovron, author of Hope and Red
"Barker undercuts the standard fantasy cliche of the badass lone assassin ... The most interesting treatment of the fantasy assassin trope in a while, and an involving narrative in its own right."
RT Book Reviews
"This is one readers will find hard to put down."
Booklist
"Age of Assassins is one of the greatest debuts of the year, and RJ Barker is an author to look out for."
Book Nest
"The best damn political fantasy to hit shelves since Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice. Clear your schedule, as you will not be able to put Age of Assassins down."
Pop Verse

On Sale: Aug 1, 2017
Publisher: Hachette Audio
ISBN-13: 9781478971474

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RJ Barker

About the Author

RJ Barker lives in Leeds with his wife, son and “a collection of questionable taxidermy.” He grew up reading whatever he could get his hands on, and having played in a rock band before deciding he was a rubbish musician, RJ returned to his first love, fiction, to find he is rather better at that. As well as his debut epic fantasy series, the Wounded Kingdom trilogy (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) RJ has written short stories and historical scripts which have been performed across the country. He has the sort of flowing locks any cavalier would be proud of. RJ’s novel The Bone Ships is the winner of the British Fantasy Society’s Best Novel, aka the Robert Holdstock Award.

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