Title:  The Assassin’s Angel (From Hells to Hollis #1)

Author:  Amanda Wiles

Published:  June 30, 2024 by Heroes Rise, LLC

Source:  read on KU

Type:  ebook

Blurb: 

The reluctant angel…

Foul-mouthed, sharp-tongued, and salty Captain Cutlass left her broken youth behind to sail the seas and ended up in the hells. Just as her shattered heart began to heal, she sacrificed herself for the only man she’d ever loved—and found herself in the heavens, searching for meaning in her ascension and failing to find it. Restless and inexplicably unhappy among her angelic hosts, she jumps at the chance to return to her hometown of Hollis. But the reappearance of Captain Cutlass doesn’t go unnoticed. Assassins hide in the seaside streets, and danger drips from every eave. Will she finally find what she’s searched for in the place she ran from so many years ago?

The resigned assassin…

Sharpe never wanted to be in Hollis to begin with, but as an assassin with the Philosophers guild, he had little choice but to follow orders. Against all the odds and despite everything he ever told himself about love, he fell for a beguiling, brown-eyed pirate—in Hell’s desolate deserts of all places. She never knew the true depths of his feelings for her, and she’d never know the pain he felt when she left him behind in Hell, ripping his heart out and taking it with her to Heaven. Convinced he’d never see her again, Sharpe survived Hell and returned to his duties. Without her, the guild was all he had. When he’s assigned to track down and capture her, will he choose his guild or his angel?

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Amanda Wiles’ The Assassin’s Angel kicks off the From Hells to Hollis series with a fiery blend of romance and redemption. Set in a world with magic wielders, spies, angels and demons, this novel is a journey of acceptance, balancing heartbreak, and high-stakes tension. With a heroine who defies celestial expectations and a morally gray love interest caught between duty and desire, the author delivers a story that’s as chaotic as it is captivating.

Plot summary

The story follows Captain Cutlass, a foul-mouthed pirate who dies in a self-sacrificial act and wakes up in Heaven, only to find it doesn’t suit her. To her luck, the celestial realm is not ready to fully embrace her, until the earthly debts are settled.  She then returns to her hometown of Hollis, hoping to understand what keeps her tied to the land of the living, and maybe see the man she gave up her life for just one more time.

But her return doesn’t go unnoticed. Assassins lurk in the shadows, and danger clings to every corner of the seaside city. Cutlass’ past actions have consequences and she will soon have to face them.

Meanwhile, Sharpe, an assassin bound to the Philosophers Guild, is assigned to track her down. Their paths collide in a swirl of unresolved feelings and buried truths. As the tension builds, both must confront the ghosts of their past and the choices that shaped them.

Characters

Captain Cutlass is an excellent protagonist. Her emotional depth and resilience make her both relatable and unpredictable. She’s not your typical angel, and that’s exactly what makes her compelling. Determined to find out who is hunting her, she turns to her long-time friend for support. She’s not afraid to admit to her mistakes and the fallouts.

What makes her truly stand out though is her ability to adapt and her instinct. Yes, she is impulsive, but recovers quickly and approaches situations with caution and maturity. Always a rebel, she wants to settle down, but in a world that is shaped around her personality: less perfect and edgy.

Sharpe is equally layered. Stoic on the surface but simmering with unspoken pain, his internal conflict adds a rich emotional texture to the narrative. He feels he is not worthy of love, and has pushed Cutlass away during their time in Hell. Only when he loses her, he understands how much she meant to him. Haunted by her memory and the regret of what could have been, he finds solace with his new guild.

If Cutlass clearly intents on seeing him upon her return to earth, Sharpe never expected a second chance. When the mysterious contract creating noise among guilds brings them face to face once more, he is determined not to lose her again.

The chemistry between Cutlass and Sharpe is electric, full of longing, and danger. Before completely accepting their feelings, both characters must accept and embrace their past. Only after learning to love themselves can they open their hearts to one another. Their dynamic is the beating heart of the story, full of tension that teeters between love and violence.

Side characters, though less prominent, add flavor and grit to the world, especially the guild members and Cutlass’ best friend. All with various shades of grey, they try to make due with the cards life has dealt them.

Writing and themes

The writing is visceral and vivid, laced with sarcasm, grit, and poetic melancholy. Amanda Wiles balances humor with heartbreak, crafting scenes that can make you laugh out loud and then immediately clutch your chest. The pacing is tight, action-packed and with little time for comfort.

Themes of redemption, identity, and the cost of love run deep. The novel explores what it means to choose your own path, even when fate, duty, or divine expectation tries to dictate otherwise.

Hell is portrayed as an eternal fight for survival, while Heaven is perfect, calm and… dull. Life (and its challenges) is what defines us as humans. This idea shines through the pages. But a worthy existence can be achieved only after we learn to embrace our past, deal with our present, and develop and exceptional future.

Cover Review: there is something artistic in this cover. The background simulates a painting – does this add character? Maybe. Definitely, the two symbols are elements from the story, and you know how strict I am about these things. We have the angel, the assassin’s armour, and Sharpe’s dagger. I really like it !

Conclusion

The Assassin’s Angel is a bold and emotionally raw story that doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of love, loss, and identity. If you’re drawn to romantasy that leans into the morally gray, with protagonists who are more haunted than heroic, this book will absolutely resonate.

I’m excited to see what the rest of the series has in store. If I enjoyed book one this much, I’m sure the next ones will be at least equally entertaining.

Until next time, happy reading!