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Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Longinus aka The Viper is Damsport's self-proclaimed most elegant assassin, who also considers himself the best alchemist in town, although I see him more as a poet. Amusingly, Longinus can’t stand blood; an irrational fear that must be kept hidden at all costs to protect his reputation. However, Rory, a scrawny urchin teenager, knows his secret. She blackmails Longinus to teach her swordsmanship in exchange for keeping her mouth shut. The Viper has no choice but to comply.
Set in a steampunk world, The Viper and the Urchin (A Novel of Steampunk Adventure) by Celine Jeanjean is a complete story that is part of the Bloodless Assassin Mysteries. Quirky characters are definitely one of the strongest points of this novel. Longinus is quite a peculiar assassin who strictly adheres to his own ‘elegant’ code. I found myself chuckling several times with his antics. I find Rory complements him well. The scrawny teen’s dream to become a great sword fighter like her idol, the Scarred Woman, is admirable. I do wonder how she can take so many physical blows – the girl has a tough head, literally.
It’s easy to root for the protagonists, especially when a copycat assassin begins to imitate and even degrade The Viper’s elegant work. The unlikely duo has to put aside their differences and work together to stop the copycat. Unfortunately, the threat is bigger than they anticipated. Building worlds is key in fantasy, and Jeanjean’s steampunk world is definitely well-crafted. With an intricate plot, The Viper and the Urchin is a story that makes readers long for part two; definitely a meaty book for fantasy fans to sink their teeth into.
