“Even the best plans fail. “
This is how the final installment of the The Reluctant Assassin series begins. It’s a fitting opening line for the series as Zayn has had to contend with countless setbacks in his plans to slay the Lady of Varna.
As they say, no plan survive first contact with the enemy. In a way, this series didn’t survive my early outlines and drafts, but I know it surpassed it. I’m deeply proud of how this series turned out, and warmed by the reaction that the books have received.
Even the best plans fail.
Zayn has spent his whole life preparing for the final confrontation with the Lady of Varna, but as the day grows closer, complications multiply. When he realizes he can no longer trust his cousin, or his patron—nor does he want to get his teammates killed—it means he must finish his quest alone. But the Lady of Varna has been alive for millennia because she has a supernatural knack for avoiding even the most cunning plans. If Zayn is going to solve this impossible conundrum, he’s going to have to get help from an unlikely source and accept the price of his failures.
The Webs That Bind, the final book in The Reluctant Assassin series, can be found on Amazon for $5.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited.
First off I am so into the Hundred Halls and my 9 year old is dying to be old enough to read the books.
My Sister introduced me to this world and I’m so chuffed she did.
I totally dig this entire series but I have to say that the way you wrote the finale was brilliant! Without giving anything away or spoiling things for those who have yet to read it, I’ll just say that it’s fast paced, you’ll be happy with the journey overall and yet sad too, like every good adventure there’s a price to pay for peace. ?
It has everything I could have wanted to finish Zayn’s Arc.
Tom a question for you ?
When did Zayn first pop into your mind and what was the development process like for his particular series? I’ve read before that you had ideas about the Hundred Halls for years. But where did your inspiration come from for this series in particular? Or do you secretly live in Varna and are asking for help? Lol ?
Thanks
Jay
I’m pleased that you’re enjoying the series! As to your question, the inspiration came from the title of the first book – The Reluctant Assassin. It was a book title that I’d had bouncing around in my head for years. When I started writing the Hundred Halls books, I knew I would set a story in the assassin’s hall and that this title would be the first. As for Zayn and his story, the beginnings were fleshed out in early drafts of the original books (Trials of Magic) that I scrapped because they weren’t working. It wasn’t until the sixth version of Trials of Magic that the story came together, but by this time, Zayn wasn’t a part of it anymore (though he shows up in Web of Lies).