DEATH SWORN wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was an enjoyable read. You can't really go wrong with sorcerers and assassins, which is at the heart of DEATH SWORN. 
 The novel picks right up from page one and carries on with good pacing throughout most of the book. I flew through this one once I just sat down and started reading, the writing is easy to fall into and the story goes by fast enough that you will be halfway done with the book before you even realize it. 
 On the other hand, plot wise, not much was going on. A romance was being semi-developed and the main character was training assassins in the art of magic but there weren't any huge happenings in the storyline until the very end. 
 Anyway, going back to the romance. It was predictable from the very beginning a relationship would develop between Ileni and one of the assassins, who I liked as a character but not a love interest. As for the development, it is one of the romances where little things like looks and touching happen and then BAM-love confession. 
 The world building has such potential, I can't wait to see more of it fleshed out in the next book. I would also like some more history about the Empire, why there are sorcerers and assassins, etc. Otherwise, I was fairly happy with the magic system and concept in general. 
 Bottom line is that for all the fantasy books I've read this one won't be that memorable, but it is a good book in a series that I will probably be following.