Book review: The Serpent’s Coil by K.N. Timofeev

Have you ever wondered how a magical assassin is created? Or maybe how a kingdom’s spy master manages to acquire his armies of informants? The Serpent’s Coil by K.N. Timofeev has the answer for you.

In this first book of the Tales of Blades and Darkness series, Mirra goes from a street orphan to the kingdom’s most skilled assassin while in the service of the King’s Viper. As a pickpocket and thief in the capital, she’s forced to steal the kingdom’s most sacred relic in order to protect her friends. Caught holding the relic, she’s sent to death row to await her fate at the gallows.

At the last moment, Lord Julian saves her from the death sentence by taking her under his wing. With a magical tattoo to keep her on a leash, he sends her out on a journey that lets her spend time learning and growing on a small farm. After time learning to hunt and farm her journey leads to the house of the kingdom’s most famous courtesan. 

Able to blend in with every walk of life and skilled in fighting and poisons, Mirra is finally sent on her actual mission. Sent back to her home city, she’s now playing the role of a noble lady, sent to protect the princess from herself. But this is just the stage for the earth shaking choice she’s going to have to make.

This was a fun introduction to a story that I had never imagined before. The tale of an assassin's rise from the beginning is something we don’t commonly see in fantasy. We often see the hero's journey, but this twist is unique.

With the start of the series like this, I can’t wait to keep reading. As of right now this is the only book released. If you enjoy this book K.N. Timofeev does have another trilogy called the Lost Guardians series that I’ll hopefully be trying soon.  I would recommend following the author on social media @KNTimofeev and on her website for updates.