This is a Dawn of Assassins prequel that introduces Melita, Lev and the rest of the gang. It gives a great view of what they do, how they operate and just how surprising those situations can be.

Before they were assassins... Life is tough, but it's hell when you're a street kid. Fedor works as a shoeshine boy, earning scraps to survive in the shadow of the priests. When a gang of thieves takes him under their wing, Fedor sees a side of life he never knew existed. But as he is dragged deeper into the gang, he is forced down a path he doesn't want. Will he turn his back on the priests, or risk becoming 'fair game'? Can he survive the initiation? Who can he really trust? Set in the same universe as The Ravenglass Chronicles, Birth of Assassins is the prequel novel to Jon Cronshaw's series Dawn of Assassins, a coming-of-age high fantasy featuring assassins, thieves, and magic... Perfect for fans of Scott Lynch, Robin Hobb, and Brent Weeks. Get your copy now, because everyone loves a scoundrel.

Two friends. A master assassin. One deadly choice. Fedor and Lev are thieves...not killers. They lead a desperate life in the tunnels of Nordturm, conning and stealing to buy their next meal. But when an assassin recruits them against their will, they are forced into a life they do not want and cannot escape. If they leave, they will die. But if they stay, they must kill. Can they survive the master’s relentless evaluation? Is loyalty stronger than the will to live? Will their friendship last the ordeal?

Fedor is a thief...and a killer. Soren changed everything. Nothing can go back to how things were. Armed with a magical blade, Fedor has no choice but to accept his first contract as an assassin. His target is the most dangerous man in Nordturm. Is the money a high enough price to kill? Will he choose between the life of a thief, or the life of an assassin? What will happen to the surviving members of his gang?