Assassin's Blade

The White Mage Saga, Book 0

By: Ben Hale

Narrated by: Derek Perkins

Renowned for his flawless kills, the Swordsman is one of the most lethal mages on Earth.

His reputation for subtlety allows him to command a high price - despite his singular rule. He does not kill innocents. Recently, his employer has been a secretive group known as the Harbingers, whose latest target is not who he seems. Known only as Hawk, the man proves to be an elusive quarry. When stalking his haunts fails the Swordsman baits a trap and settles in to wait. But this prey is also a predator, one who knows a disturbing truth. If the Swordsman believes it, his rage will see no bounds. No mage or man will deprive him of retribution, for when you betray the Swordsman, you invite his blade.

Assassin's Blade is a short story in the riveting Chronicles of Lumineia series. It precedes the events in The Last Oracle.

©2014 Ben Hale (P)2021 Podium Audio

Quick but enjoyable ride

I really enjoyed the tone and delivery of this performance. Characters aren't super complex but I was listening for the action and world building so it didn't bother me at all. I would try more titles by this author!

Action packed short story intro to Series

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t a short story that was 50+% fight scenes. As my first encounter with the author & narrator, I’m willing to proceed … cautiously. I’m hoping the world building/setting, characters, & dialogue are more fleshed out in the main books.

3 of 5 stars.

great book!

good book! I hope the books get better and better as the story goes on in them.

Not for newcomers to the series

I do enjoy Ben Hale's work, but this is clearly for fans of the series, not for newcomers.

Good insight into the Swordsman

This was a nice novel that explaining who the Swordsman is just a little bit more. I would recommend it and then continue to read the White Mage Omnibus.

A fast paced, urban fantasy prequel novella

*currently included with audible from Podium Audio. The quality and narration are good! Would recommend

This is a prequel novella to The Chronicles of Lumineia: The White Mage Saga, and the latest that I’ve completed from Podium Audio as there is a ton of prequels from them included on audible right now.

This one kind of felt like the complete opposite of the prequel novella I just finished (Shield Knight: Ghost Orcs by Jonathan Moeller). It didn’t do much in the way of world building, or lore, and it literally described nothing. The story is actually urban fantasy, which from the cover you’d never guess, but it says it starts in New York. If it wasn’t for the fact that at one point he’s in a wood and steel warehouse I don’t think it even points to a time period either. Even though that descriptor alone points to what, industrial-modern? Plus with this being so short, other than naming it on earth (via New York, Florida and Russia), it doesn’t have anything that involves our normal world in it weirdly enough.

The story is about an assassin, aka ‘the swordsman,’ who can use magic to enhance his fighting, sneaking, or killing. Which honestly are all cool and give some nice fight sequences. I will say the character uses something simply called a ‘board’ or ‘air board’ to fly incredibly fast (even over an ocean) and it does not get an explanation…so I’m thinking like silver surfer??? It became a little confusing as I just did not know what I was supposed to picture.

Personally a 3.5/5* for me! This is a series of five, so a bit shorter than the last, but I’m not sure I’ll continue. This was fun though!

luv it

The reader's voice was extremely incaptivating and the story was wonderfully written I look forward to more book spider's author and narrator

assassins blade

interesting novella. exciting and focused on the tail of the assassin. great job of narration.

Assassin's blade

Nice audio book short story with sword play and warriors who are heading towards war.

Short but sweet, recommend.

Well composed, lots of action. Plot hung together, and proceeded logically, characters were well defined. Basically a well written action based short story.