The Progeny Assassin: A Tarnished Lands Story by P.A. Wikoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Her soot-covered body blends perfectly with the charredscape, hiding her tough bark-like skin against the wicked wreckage. Her kind walks and talks like humans do, only with a particularly distinguishing characteristic—delicate feathers that sprout from her body instead of hair. Though she has no way of hiding her violet eyes, her soft silver feathers blend nicely with her dark disguise. This feature gives the feathered-folk an almost symphonic sound when a breeze travels through the forest, like a meadow of foxtails brushing up against each other on a spring afternoon, although Lara has never known the swishing sound or the feeling it evokes. It died alongside the trees when the forest lost its breath. Her people used to believe that the wind would cleanse the nightmares that tainted their souls. However, her master says that the wind never took away the fears, but rather, brought everyone else’s to them to play out its cruelty. Lara doesn’t know what to believe, but in either case, the breeze no longer blows here since the leaves stopped growing to cheer on its presence with their rustling applause. Movements are difficult to hide in a place so still. Like hearing moaning in a graveyard, it puts you on edge. If it weren’t for the sun’s crusade in the sky, one might think that time had perished alongside everything else.”

The Progeny Assassin is A Tarnished Lands Story and the second book in the Forgotten Woods Series By P.A Wikoff. This is another interesting and original fantasy full of action, adventure, drama, unique creatures/beings, magic, some violence, drama, despair, discoveries, darkness & light, renewal, hope, and much more. As with the first book, this story has a bit of dark tone to it, giving it the feel of an epic D & D story/game. But mostly this it is a story of revelations & self-discovery and how Lara finds her true purpose in the Tarnished Lands. This is my favourite of the series, so far. I was hooked right from the beginning and didn’t put it down until I’d read every word! As with the first book, this is vividly descriptive, and intricately detailed- which brings this fantastical tale and world into ‘being’.
A worthy addition to this wonderful series. So, if you love swords and sorcery, D & D, original and intriguing fantasy, and quirky/unique characters- then this book should be on your TBR.
Bring on Book #3, “The Mad Wizard”!

Thank you, Mr. Wikoff!

Reviewed by @angelahayes

View all my reviews