Saturday, September 11, 2010

Review - Cameo the Assassin by Dawn McCullough-White




I bought this book back in July and finally had some time to read it.  If you’re looking for a classic good vs. evil book, you won’t find it here.  What you will find is a story full of action, surprising twists and turns and a cast of interesting and complicated characters.

The story opens up with horrific attack upon Cameo when she was a young girl. While she lay dying, a mysterious stranger, Haffef, comes upon the scene, heals her in his own unique way and her life is forever changed.  Fast forward years ahead and Cameo the Assassin has become a legend in her own time.  She is a ruthless killer, accepting jobs from the witch, Wick, head of The Association.  She moves from job to job with ruthless efficiency while consuming large amounts of alcohol to dull her own inner demons.

Her life takes another dramatic turn when her coach is stopped and she is robbed by a pair of highwaymen, Opal and Bell.  Against her better judgment, she develops a relationship with these two instead of killing them for stealing from her.  This is where the story ramps up the action because everything Cameo does has consequences not only for her, but for everyone she associates with.  My favorite character was Opal, the flamboyant dandy.  His decisions and interactions with Cameo keep you turning the pages to the very last page.

Throughout the book, Cameo is forced to make decisions that are not in her best interest, but she can’t help herself because she finds that after all the years spent alone, she now craves the company of others especially Opal.  Haffef comes back on the scene in the last third of the book, compelling Cameo to do a job for him.  Because of her bond to him, she cannot refuse his request.  Needless to say, a lot happens, relationships change, people die and Cameo must bear witness to it all knowing that all the suffering can be laid directly at her feet.

I enjoyed this book, but I do have a complaint about the constant shifting of POV throughout the book.  It took me awhile to figure out who was talking during some of the dialogue.  

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