Review: Cameo the Assassin (The Cameo Series #1) by Dawn McCullough-White

Hey guys!

I know I haven't posted a review in a long time and I'm sorry about that, but I'm a bit overwhelmed with the amount of work I have to do lately! I just need to graduate already! *head desk*
Anyways, here's a book I had the chance to read a few weeks ago and I can't just let it go unnoticed:

Cameo the Assassin (The Cameo Series #1) by Dawn McCullough-White

Goodreads Blurb: The Kingdom of Sieunes is rife with taverns, dirty streets, and clay pipe smoking citizens all toiling to feed their families and keep themselves in something little better than rags. With a foiled revolution just ten years prior still burning in the hearts of many, the royals enlist the aid of assassins to keep things in order. The townsfolk entertain themselves by dreaming of better times to come and regaling in stories of the undead said to walk the graveyards at night... and of Cameo the killer with corpse-like eyes...
Scarred and jaded Cameo is one of the most effective assassins in the employ of the Association, moving from one mission to the next as long as the alcohol keeps flowing. Her acceptance of the murder-for-hire lifestyle is thrown into doubt when she meets a local highwayman with a penchant for fine clothes and women, and then she begins to think about breaking with the company but no one ever breaks with the Association under good terms.

My thoughts:

It took me longer than usual to read this book because it's a little out of my comfy zone (different from the books I usually read), but I'm very glad I read it. It's a very original and interesting Dark Fantasy novel which offered me a perfect escape from all the fantasy and paranormal books coming out lately!

Cameo, the assassin, was a fast paced, full of action read. The mystery and the suspense kept me interested and eager to know what happened next throughout the entire story and the main character is very unusual and interesting to read about.

So Cameo (what a cool name, don't you think?) is a witty, kick-butt heroine who kills people for hire. She's very mysterious and there is also something eerie about her - well, she's not quite human. And though this description may not sound out of the ordinary, believe me, there is nothing ordinary about Cameo. On the contrary, she is a very unique, complex and intriguing character. Because of her slightly unusual appearance and her reputation as an assassin, people are really afraid of her - they even have creepy stories about her:

Kyrian to Cameo: "My parents used to tell me stories about you when I was a little boy. Well, a rhyme really about how you killed children who didn't go to bed on time."

But something went wrong with her last mission and she found herself teaming up with a couple of highwaymen, because they were all considered responsible for killing the king. So they had to make a plan, flee town and stick together - which didn't make Cameo happy at all (at least not at first). She's used to being alone and minding her own business, and suddenly she felt responsible for other people too and she had to deal with far more challenges that she had ever expected. But with every new dangerous adventure, I got the chance to know more about all the gang members and to even understand Cameo better. She proved to be stronger and much more caring and selfless than people might have thought.

Kyrian was looking up at her, shocked at the warmth in her tone."You are Cameo?"
She smiled at him, the same caring smile she had gifted him with a moment earlier.

And despite the fact she wasn't much of a talkative person, everyone listened to her and respected her. I actually liked her attitude: she's mysterious and sarcastic, yet she makes her own decisions and sticks with them, no matter the consequences.

"You got your cameo brooch back I noticed, the one that was robbed from you," Wick clicked the pipe between her broken teeth.
"Yes."
"And yet that highwayman is still alive. Why is that, Cameo?"
"Shocking as it may seem, I don't kill every man, woman, and child I meet. I leave some of them alive for you to bully."

The story is very beautifully written and I found the time period and the setting really fascinating. But there was also something that kind of bothered me (does this surprise anyone? doubtful - I always find something to complain about - just ask Julia here LOL): the beginning of the story was a little slow and confusing. Also, the story was told from the third person POV and the switching from one POV to another really confused me at times, especially when it happened all of a sudden.

All in all, Cameo, the assassin is a dark, gritty yet entertaining read that offers an unusual blend of mystery, suspense, action, horror and just a touch of humor and romance. The strong, unique heroine will accompany readers in a journey set in an unusual, yet fascinating world where they will like to return.




I really liked it! Read it ASAP!
*Book provided to me by the author in exchange for a honest review. Thank you Dawn!

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xoxo