SCION by James Islington

5 stars

In this thrilling outing from Islington, and clocking in dramatically shorter than his other amazing fantasy books, a young assassin finds himself way over his head in a rare protection assignment for a wealthy, old female scientist.

Azure works for an elite assassin group, the Keres with the unique legal task of killing centuries old humans who have acquired vast power and wealth. Society passed the law to rid themselves of those who have taken the drug elixir of eternal youth, dubbed “Lifers,” and have oppressed all the rising generations. Most of these targets have ensconces themselves in elaborate security, both technology-based as well as bio-mechanical beasts that guard their mansions. They prove both elusive, in hidden estates, as well as difficult to reach given all their layers of protection.

Azure, who does not mind the killing based on the vision and legality of clearly out these relics, is working to pay off his significant debt to the Keres who saved his life and dramatically rehabilitated him four years earlier from the one other protection gig he took on that went awry. In rebuilding his body, the Keres has given him both cognitive and physical enhancements that make him a bit of a super-human.

On his current assignment, Azure finds himself whisked off to a secret estate to protect a wealthy lifer who has let her body grow old, wrinkles and all. She tells Azure both that you knows someone is trying to actively kill her, and that she has a file about what really happened on his last failed protection assignment that she’ll give to him if he manages to keep her alive for the next two weeks.

And with that we’re off: Azure contends with explosions, colossal bio-tech killing creatures, arson, other assassins and deadly obstacles at every turn.

As the tension ratches up, so do the unspooling secrets behind what happened to Azure, who’s really trying to murder the woman he’s protecting, and the nefarious plots that both the government and the Keres are up to.

Here’s hoping there’s more to come for Azure, and as also wait for high anticipation for the third sequel in the Will of the Many series.

Seriously FUN and one fast paced binge read! Hoping for a sequel!

Thanks to Saga Press, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.