The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clark

Ananna of Tanarau loves her life on her parent's pirate ship. However, when forced into an unwanted marriage, Ananna runs away. The slighted Hariri clan send a hired assassin after Ananna in an attempt at revenge, but things go unexpectedly wrong. Instead of killing each other, Ananna and the assassin Naji end up bound by a curse. Their attempt to break that curse leads them to faraway lands and frightening experiences.

The Assassin's Curse is an exciting adventure tale with well-crafted characters. In spite of their weaknesses (and partly because of them), Ananna and Naji are both intriguing and charming. This first book opens a great story of the quest to break an impossible curse.

The second book in the series, The Pirate's Wish , is a little less clean. There is nothing explicit, but there is implied sex and homosexuality. Just a warning before readers get drawn in by the story.

Recommended ages--14 and up