The Penitent Assassin [Kindle Edition]

Shawn Wickersheim (Author)

Book Description

Thirty years ago, when Mallor was a child, he was the sole survivor of genocide. Five years ago, while pursuing his revenge he was ambushed and killed. His goddess offered him a chance to return on the condition he became her assassin. Mallor agreed.
Now, he is back, in the dank city where it all began using an old identity to hunt down a list of old foes, but thirty-six hours before his revenge would be complete, he learns a couple of things; he has a daughter, she's been kidnapped by a sadistic magic abuser and the price for her release would not only ruin all of his plans but also kill his goddess.
Mallor is nobody's hero, but can he sacrifice his daughter to save his goddess, or will he forsake his faith and his need for revenge to rescue her instead? In this gritty fantasy novel where nothing is quite what it seems you won't know what Mallor will do until the bitter end.
Word Count: 134,500 approx.

Product Details

• File Size: 654 KB
• Print Length: 426 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Shawn Wickersheim (August 26, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005JKR95U
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #599,109 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Grabs you on page one and never lets you go... April 1, 2012

By Robbie J. Lanning

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This dark fantasy from Shawn Wickersheim had me hooked from page one. The author deftly blends brutal action scenes, dark humor and well drawn characters to create a story that is impossible to put down. The writing has a wonderful flow and perfect pacing, pulling the reader into Mallor's world and refusing to let go. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Wickersheim's work in the future. -- RJ Lanning, SFNetcast.com

1.0 out of 5 stars Long, confusing March 19, 2013

By Sgt Maj EMP

Format:Kindle Edition

Bottom line is that there wasn't a character that I really liked. And there were a lot of characters and a lot of confusing plot to go with them. Not knowing what was going on until the very end wasnt much fun. Author got too cute. Unfortunately, I finished this hoping that it would get better, especially after the 'revelations' started appearing. It didn't get better.

5.0 out of 5 stars Buckle up for an amazing ride! August 29, 2012

By Valerie

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

"Mallor is nobody's hero," but it doesn't make him any less likable.

The Penitent Assassin by Shawn Wickersheim has all of the elements of a great fantasy novel--superb writing, complicated twists, and unique characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced action of this story and found it very hard to put down. Wickersheim is an author to watch out for, and I can honestly say I am a big fan. I hope there is a sequel in the plans, because I am not yet ready to say good-bye to Mallor. Bottom line, a must-read for all fans of dark and gritty fantasy. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed.

More About the Author

I always feel a little odd composing a biography about myself and writing it in the third person. I mean, should I include something like this:

"Shawn Wickersheim was born in Illinois on a Monday and when he was still little a lady told his mother, 'It's good he was born on a Monday, that way if he ever becomes President and they decide to honor his birth date, we'll get an extra three-day weekend each year...'"

Talk about pressure!

I have to become president and rank up there with the greats just so this lady gets an extra three day weekend every year?

I went the other way. I started writing stories. Long-hand. I wrote so much I finished packs of pens and stacks of notebooks. I gained a blister on the inside edge of my middle finger. And then I worked on an old typewriter. One of those really old ones where you had to mash the keys just to get it to work. I wasn't a big fan of that typewriter back then, but I wish I had it now. Even if just to sit on my desk.

And then the desktop computer came along and after a good year or so of trying to get used to composing on it, I fell in love. No more white-out. No more blisters. No more pens--except when I'm first starting a novel. I LOVE writing down notes about characters or plots or whatever in notebooks longhand. Even now, I'll be cleaning the basement and stumble across one of those long-forgotten notebooks and more times than not, I'll be stunned to find a mostly-plotted out story just waiting for me to develop.

Which brings us to now. After quite a few years of working on The Penitent Assassin (with the occasional side-tracks into other books, short stories and a couple of scripts), it's finally done. Mallor is loose. He's not just mine anymore. I'd like to think someday I'll visit with him again, but for now, I'm working on a new story, a new world and a new character.

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy The Penitent Assassin. If you do, tell a friend. Tell two. Hell, tell 'em all. And if you don't....well....you can tell me. Quietly. Okay?

Thanks for visiting.

Darn it...do I have to end it with a third person narrative?

"....after publishing The Penitent Assassin, Shawn Wickersheim split his time between promoting his first ebook and working on his next one. He hopes to have it complete in early 2012."