This is one of those titles that you will either love or hate. Its one that although it was pretty good it also had faults. For me, this one was a little too long and really needed more in the way of story development. I enjoyed the characters and the setting but overall it was just missing that spark to make it an amazing read.

It's really hard to really review this title. Because, in ways it was too long and in others it was too short.

E-ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I won't say anything about the stunning cover that made me want to read this book.
I love when authors and publishers put an effort into the aesthetic of the book as well.

Anyway, the story was very compelling and I like how over-descriptive some scenes or places were.
The characters were excellently flashed out and I found them very likeable.
I thoroughly enjoy this and would recommend!

I tried very hard to get into this book, but couldn’t. I ended up DNFing around 25%. The writing and flow or the story wasn’t working for me, and it all felt kind of flat.

This was a "nice enough" book, when I say that I mean I did enjoy it, however it just came across as a bit okay-ish?

I really enjoyed the era in which it was set, but I want to be invested in the characters and that sadly didn't happen for me.

Very interesting concept. Not my absolute favorite, but I know plenty of others who would probably enjoy this a lot more than I did.

When empires clash,
a Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin
embark on the quest of a lifetime
Loved the premise and the plot. Made for an entertaining read!

Swords and princesses? Yes! Count me in! This was a good book. I felt like there could have been a little more to this and left me wanting more but I would be willing to give it 3 stars.
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Sword and the Dagger is a lovely little introduction to the fascinating worlds of Genghis Khan, Persian empires, and the assassins of the Eagle's nest. Although I wish I loved it more, I do eventually like the characters.

I find Conrad to be the most fascinating character within the book, and Rashid my second favourite. These two grew on me very much over the course of the story. Conrad begins as an arrogant fool, but he grows to be the Prince of Antioch he was always born to be through his experiences travelling with both Rashid and Elaine. Rashid is the would-be assassin who begins as someone who believes only in his god and of the orders given to him, but grows to find the ways to be loyal yet true to the reality he discovers in his travels with Conrad and Elaine. Elaine, however, felt the least developed to me and as much as I admire her for pro-feminism approach, she reads exactly as a character written for the purpose of being pro-feminist without really seeming very logical. Elaine is smart and she doesn't like being constrained by silly bonds, however, and what irks me the most, but doesn't quite entirely offend my sensibilities, is that she does every silly thing that she knows is not appropriate for her sex and only frets over it after. Such as leaving her safe spot during the battle between the persians and mongols, and then getting caught later--understandably she didn't want to be there, but couldn't she wait? Or go into hiding?
Didn't she think what would happen to a single woman in the middle of battle? But in saying that, she's not boring. Still, Conrad and Rashid definitely develop more on a character level. And I love them both!

I took much longer to read this than I expected and this was perhaps the fault of the pacing in the beginning. There were some interesting moments, but perhaps the arrogance of all characters made them unrelated for the beginning half. But once the characters began the severe moments of their journey, things started to get very interesting.

In short, this was a nice little fiction in which we follow three individual of different backgrounds and personalities in a journey to recover a letter that will save the life of the betrothed Elaine and Conrad. Both of whom are royals of the respective kingdoms of Tripoli and Antioch. Elaine of course is unhappy with the possibility of marriage, however she is more than willing to do whatever possibly to save her life and for her kingdom. Along the way they encounter the greats: the Old Man, the Shah of the Khwarazmid Empire, and Genghis Khan.

I was hooked as soon as I read the opening line of this story.
I really enjoyed this story and I also liked the whole Gengis Khan storyline and I thought this medieval kind of genre was very fascinating.

I placed a request for this book based on the strength of its plot description and the beautiful cover. Even though there was a massive red flag telegraphed to me with the love triangle set up, I thought “Sure, why the heck not? Who doesn’t like a good ole fun trip into the time of the Crusades?” Alas, right off the bat I struggled to get into this book, and by the last page I was more confused by the editing (or lack thereof?) of this book than anything else.

The story follows our three intrepid adventureres: Princess Elaine, her betrothed Conrad, and Rashid, an assassin sent to kill Elaine. All three are made up of a complicated mixture of the best and worst aspects of their respective belief systems, be those religious or cultural, as well as a myriad of other aspects that go to prove that no person can be defined so simply. While journeying together through various trials and tribulations, they all must learn that their fellow travelling companions are just as complex as they themselves.

As I said, I didn’t love this book. But before I get into its challenges for me, I want to highlight some aspects of the book that I did enjoy. Firstly, I liked the historical setting and the way that was tied into the book. I also really liked a lot of the broader concepts about prejudice and tolerance that our three main characters explored throughout the story. There were the obvious debates about religious disagreements came to by the Christian Conrad and the Muslim Rashid, but the story also explored gender roles with the limitations placed on Elaine as a woman growing up in a time where very little was expected, or permitted, of women. Overall, there was a nice combination of action and adventure mixed in with these larger debates in a way that allowed the book to explore some pretty big topics without coming across as overly preaching. The fast pace of the story also helped in this regard.

So those are my pros. But mixed within some of those same things that I enjoyed were also the parts of this book that I struggled with. As I said, I liked the historical setting of this book and the fast paced nature of the adventure made for a snappy read. But mixed together, it also left the book feeling oddly light and surface-level as far as its world. Our main characters jump from place to place and action piece to action piece so quickly that I never really felt like I had time to really sit back and examine the intricacies of the setting in which these events were taking place. For a book that covers of settings and ground, I never felt like I was really given any time to appreciate that fact. The plot was too busy getting from point A to point B to allow for this.

The fast paced nature of the story was also fun, but it also felt like it undercut some of the more somber moments in the story and restricted some of the character development. While overall I did like the three main characters, I also never really felt overly attached to any one of them. They often felt like the standard, expected characters for a story like this. So, too, the story they were travelling through also felt pretty expected. There weren’t any big surprises, and the few twists that there were, were exactly the ones you’d come to expect. I don’t need huge surprises around any corner, but at a certain point a sense of newness does help.

But my biggest problem came down to the writing itself and one very specific thing: the POVs would change without any indication or warning. Even in the middle of paragraphs! Even to characters who weren’t one of the main three. In the very first chapter, we’re introduced to Elaine, but then random sentences come through from the perspective of those around her commenting on Elaine herself. There’s no explanation for why we’re suddenly in this new character’s mind and then just as suddenly, we’re back to Elaine. It was incredibly distracting and quickly started to drive me crazy as we went on. I’m not sure what was going on there, but this specific aspect is where I think a good editor was needed. This is the kind of writing tic/flaw that a good editor will flag and help an author work through during the revision process. For some reason that didn’t happen and what could have been a better story suffered for it.

Ultimately, this writing issue was really the nail in the coffin of my enjoyment of this book. There are some good bones here, but for me, I couldn’t get past the distraction of this. That, plus the light descriptions of setting and sometimes too-fast nature of the story, ended up outweighing the parts of the story that I did enjoy. This could be good for fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in this time period. But we warned that if you’re sensitive to writing quirks, this one might be a struggle.

Rating 5: It had some good things to say about prejudices and tolerance, but the weird POV issue was too much for me.

I really enjoyed this book! I think the plot was very comprehensive, and the characterization deep. I especially liked the way the writing was evocative and helped you feel and think the same way the characters did! - All in all an excellent book, everyone should read it!

I enjoyed this! Though there were so many complex issues that could have really been delved into deeper. Also, there were some things especially in regard to character building that could have been a bit stronger.

developing relationship between the three traveling companions was fun and for the most part pretty engaging. Overall, a pretty enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this via netgalley.

This was a fun read, mostly because it reminded me so much of another series that I absolutely adore, The Remnant Chronicles. I think that if you were a fan of that series, then this will be one you can instantly enjoy and appreciate. Aside from the similarities, The Sword and the Dagger was also unique enough to reveal adventurous story of its own that takes the characters and the reader on an epic journey. From one crazy event to the next there is always something happening to keep your attention focused on the plot. From failed assassinations, to run away princesses, to unlikely friendships and even war... SO much happens in the span of this one book. 

One of my biggest issues with stand alone books is that I feel they tend to be rushed. There just aren't enough pages to fully flesh out all the characters and scenes to get the same amount of depth that an epic series can provide the reader. But when a story is told well it can be a nice change of pace to start and finish a story within the pages of a single book. When you read that last sentence its done, no more. You aren't left hanging wondering what happens next, waiting years for the next installment only to find that you have completely forgotten how the first book even ended. So I was happy to finish this book and realize that it wrapped up perfectly. While there are still some parts that the author leaves to the reader's imagination, nothing feels unfinished or left undone. I enjoy when a book feels complete without feeling overdone. Where the scenes are described in painful detail, and the flow from one part to the next doesn't feel rushed or choppy. And this book is a perfect example of that. It flowed from each location with ease and there was never a part where I felt lost or confused. I loved that even with a little error with the formatting, (which will most likely be fixed in the final editing process) I could still tell exactly which character's POV I was reading from with ease.The three main characters have such distinct personalities and voices that it was as if I had known them my whole life. 

Speaking of characters, I fell in love with the three main characters. The friendship and dynamic between them was perfect. One of my favorite tropes is the hate to love relationship, and I don't think it gets any better than the romantic tension between a couple of the characters found in this book. I also love the friendship and the bond formed between the three as they are sent on a journey across the country with only the tentative trust built between them over the course of a few weeks. But over the rest of the journey they learn that there is more than the prejudice that they had been taught, and they learn to see past their differences in religion and upbringings to form a bond that makes them almost unstoppable. Each with their own unique talents, they come together to keep each other out of danger and to all accomplish the goals that they wanted to achieve together. Because they find that in the end they are better together than apart. This resonated with me so much because it seems like we all still face so much negativity for our differences when really if we could all take the time to get to know one another and see past what we are told to fear, we might realize that we are all human and we all want to be accepted and loved for who we are. I think that this was a strong moral that rose to the surface throughout the book and I feel like this is something we should never forget or overlook.

The only thing I can think that kept me from truly loving this book was the convenience of some aspects. In a story where there are so many struggles and twists and turns, the way the characters get through these conflicts are where the lessons are learned, and I feel like in some parts it was almost too convenient to be believable. And while I know its a fantasy and fiction, you still want to be able to feel like it could be real. And when things just happen to fall into place or you skip to another POV just in time to not have to read about a particular difficult part, it makes it almost seem like you were cheated out of that character's growth or maybe even an epic part that could have made all the difference in the way the story is portrayed. Even though this might be something that bothered me, I still feel like it wasn't a big enough issue to cause me to dislike the book as a whole. It might not even be a bother to anyone else other than me. Which is okay! I just had to point it out since that's the only thing that kept me from truly thinking this book was a perfect 5 star read.

I really enjoyed this and almost wish that there was more because I did come to love these characters so much and their friendships were contagious. It almost makes you want to go out and befriend someone that you normally wouldn't, just to see past your initial fear of being different or rejected for your differences. Because in the end we all just want to live and be happy and loved, right? So in a sense we aren't all that different at our cores. Maybe learn about a new religion, find a friend who lives in a different country, reach out to the person that no one else talks to... anything to find that there is more than meets the eye. This book was such an eye opener in that respect and I think it shows what taking that chance could lead to, and hopefully would lead to, And you never know, you might make a new friend for life.

One of the most accurate descriptions of the Crusades period and of Genghis Khan is presented in this thrilling adventure! I loved all the main characters especially Elaine who is strong for her time, a feminist even, as also how she tried to navigate through a man's world. This was a very enjoyable read.

Set during the Crusades THE SWORD AND THE DAGGER is teeming with action and adventure as three unlikely allies—a Christian princess, her betrothed Knight, and a Muslim assassin—set out on a quest to retrieve a priceless artifact.

Arranged Marriages, Scared Documents and Genghis Khan

The story opens with an arranged marriage about to take place between Princess Elaine of Tripoli and her future husband, Prince Conrad of Antioch in hope of uniting their kingdoms—last two remaining Crusader states and halt the advancement of the Saracens.

Only things don’t go as planned and an attempt on Elaine’s life set into motion a quest to retrieve a sacred document rumored to be in the court of the most fearsome warrior the world has ever known, Genghis Khan.

Along the way, while trying to avoid kidnappings, deadly battles, and hostile enemies, they will discover unexpected friendship, courage, and honor.

Crusaders, Castles, and Assassins

When I first began to read this story, one of the elements that immediately caught my attention was the story’s setting. Rich and dangerous—it is set in the Middle East during a time of knights and castles. Of warriors and assassins—The Crusades.

How a princess, a knight, and assassin find themselves on a quest together was only half the fun. Cochran paints a vivid setting of adventure and danger in the Holy Land while creating multifaceted characters that you come to care about.

A Fiery Heroine Who Uses a Slingshot

Elaine is pretty fierce and definitely spirited and headstrong. She carries a slingshot and is an expert using it—which saves the day more than once in this story. I really liked the fact that she is a heroine that takes matters into her own hands, even if it means defying the norms of what is acceptable for a woman during her time in history.

A Pompous Knight Who Learns a Valuable Lesson

Conrad comes across as snobbish and does not make a good impression to his betrothed, in fact, he ends up humiliating himself by being thrown from his horse in front of Elaine the first time they meet. But, he goes through so much character-transformation and readers are going to see the sweet, if insecure, boy that lies beneath his rough exterior. Protective and loyal, Conrad makes the biggest changes in the story and ended up being something admirable.

The Assassin of Mercy

This story is definitely a richer one for Rashid’s characterization. Trained to be an assassin since the age of Twelve, he knows little beyond his master’s orders, until he meets his enemy, a Christian princess who shows mercy upon him and sets into motion a quest that with have enemies band together in order to fight an even greater enemy.

A Timely Message About Working Through Our Differences

The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran ended-up being an enjoyable read. I appreciated the Historical Note at the end which put the story in context. I enjoyed the positive messages expertly woven throughout. Readers will need to be patient with this read as it moves at a slower pace during the beginning of the story’s set up. Filled with adventure, romance, and an Eastern setting—I’m definitely excited to read more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Teen for the chance to read this book, The Sword and the Dagger by Robert Cochran! My thoughts are my own, as always.

I give this book 3 stars.

Synopsis :

When empires clash, 
a Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin 
embark on the quest of a lifetime 

During the time of the Crusades, an unlikely trio—a Christian princess, her affianced prince, and a Muslim assassin—embarks on a quest to the court of the most fearsome warrior the world has ever known, Genghis Khan.

A rousing tale of adventure and romance about three young people who must grapple with fundamental issues of loyalty, friendship, faith, honor, and courage against the backdrop of conflicts that still resonate today. 

...


I downloaded this book for our trip because it looked just a perfect historical fiction read for a long bus ride or a plane. While I did enjoy this story, it was fairly unremarkable and moderately slow plotted. I found the character arc of the prince to be difficult and unreliable, and I didn't like him. The other characters were generally unremarkable and clichéd as well.

Honestly, I didn’t like how this book started but that quickly changed once the action began. I wasn’t expecting Princess Elaine’s courage to find the answer to her question even if that meant putting her own life at risk but she didn’t care she wanted to know the truth. I admire that courage. If I was in her situation, I don’t think I would be able to do the same. Another thing that I liked about this book is that it is not another one of the princess saved by her prince story. Like a damsel in distress. Elaine is different even both Conrad and Rashid agreed to this fact. I highly recommend this book to those who are seeking a royalty type of book with plenty of action. It may seem like you won’t like it at first but you’ll end up loving it in the end. Travel with Princess Elaine, Prince Conrad, and Rashid to their journey against Genghis Khan.

*Thank you to Tor Teen (via NetGalley) for approving my request to read this eARC, in exchange for an honest review. This is a spoiler-free review. Every thoughts, feelings, and opinions about this review is solely MINE. *

This book tells about a diverse team up, a Christian princess who is set to rule her small kingdom, betrothed to a prince with an attitude, and a Muslim assassin. They are forced to work together as they go on a quest to face one of the most feared warriors. This event took place during the Crusade era. It is a mix of adventure and fantasy. Others will find this team up intriguing because of class status, gender, and religious differences especially in a country that is a bit wary with Muslim people. This is no surprise for me since if you are familiar with history, then you will know how people back then judged those who are different from them. I learn that this book is somehow based on true historical events so I am very intrigued as to how will the story unfolds.
​
What I love about this book is how strong the character of Princess Elaine is. She is not a damsel in distress and can be stubborn in wanting to help but usually can turn into a disaster. At least she speaks what is on her mind and not afraid.

As much as I enjoy the flow of the book, it became a bit predictable. Also, I was not a fan of the author's writing style. I have read a few books with multiple POVs (point of views) but only this book that had me confused and needs to go back few pages just to check if I am following the story flow.

RATING: 3 out of 5 stars
I did enjoy the story but I was not happy with how the ending goes with the cliffhanger that made me all the more confused. Not sure if I will be picking up the sequel to this book.

I thought this book was a perfectly solid. With the exception of one thing that I will get to I felt that it was crafted really well. The setup of the problem, the inciting actions, are all perfect for teens.

The setting is something I wish we got to explore more in historical teen fiction. The crusades are bloody and terrible and this does a great job of examining them from all perspectives, without making one side look too rosy. I think information on this part of history is so necessary and reflective in the current political climate of the world.

As for the plot it has everything needed for great pacing. It moves along with no one event stretching on longer than necessary. The only problem I had was the alternating POV. Good gracious that got a bit confusing in parts and made it hard to follow character blocking and thoughts.

I really feel teen boys will benefit from this book. They will be given a small glimpse into a woman's world, but also engaged enough with the constant action and steady pacing.

This was such an unexpected gem for me! I flew through the pages, and to be honest, I don't even know if I can fully explain why? I mean, I'll try though!

•The Crusades and Genghis Khan and that whole time period are horrible and also fascinating as hell. I mean, this book is not for the squeamish, but it also is pretty accurate from everything I have read about the era. In fact, I think the author does a good job of presenting the absolute horror without being unnecessarily gory, if that helps. But make no mistake, it was a gory time in history, so.

•I love these three main characters so, so much. You have Elaine, the princess of Tripoli, who is kind of over the patriarchy. Conrad is her would-be husband and prince of Antioch who, at the start, I was hoping got stabbed. Rashid is the assassin, who is from a small, hidden Muslim community who has tasked him with killing Elaine. And I won't lie, I was scared because ummm are we sure we want to portray it that way? But it wasn't. At all. Rashid is arguably the best of them, and absolutely the most open-minded. The thing I loved about the characters is that they each underwent so, so much growth, and all had flaws, and a blind spot when it came to judging another group of people.

•Elaine was a feminist before it had a name. She was sick of being treated like property, and girl, preach. She basically set off to find Rashid knowing she could die, but figuring it was better than being forced to marry Conrad.

•So. Much. Adventure. They headed off on a quest through... well look I am not even 100% sure how far, but it seemed like a long distance. And through some pretty rough territory- both geographically and politically. And I adore a journey of survival and such, so this was a big draw for me.

•The trio formed an incredible bond. It was interesting to see them morph from bitter adversaries to... well, you'll have to read it for yourself to see how it goes down, but it was really great. I will say, that they start to begrudgingly respect each other fairly on, so you'll just have to find out what happens after that!

My only real issue was at about maybe 60% in, things started to feel a little redundant for about a quarter of the book. I just didn't feel the same draw to keep reading that I did during the first part (or the last bit, where things picked up again). So that was my only real negative, and I adored how the book ended. From what I can tell, this was a standalone and it wrapped up thusly. The author's note in the back gives a lot of background on the historical stuff, and it's very clear that a lot of research went into it!

Bottom Line: Such great character development and an incredibly exciting world made me eager to keep reading!