Zara Blackthorn hails from Gloamhaven, a thriving metropolitan hub in the Southern Reaches. Growing up amidst the city’s winding alleys and hidden enclaves, Zara learned the art of thievery at a young age, mastering the skills necessary to navigate a world rife with danger and betrayal. She quickly rose through the ranks of the local thieves’ guild, becoming known for her cunning intellect and unparalleled agility. While earning the respect of many, her audacious feats also made numerous enemies. However, her criminal exploits eventually drew the ire of powerful figures within the city. When a heist went awry, it led to the deaths of several guild members and ignited a deadly feud with a rival faction. Zara had little choice but to flee to save her own life.
Seeking refuge in Alchester, she forged a new identity, becoming a high-ranking member of the local thieves’ guild led by the formidable Thjorn Targalas. Zara remains on edge despite her new circumstances, haunted by the past and the rumor that her former enemies continue to hunt her. Her fierce glare and grumpy demeanor often intimidate those around her, making it difficult for her to form trusting relationships. However, she has found camaraderie in Elizabeth West and a deeper connection in Nyxander Hawkins, affectionately known as Nyx, whose charm and laid-back attitude offer comfort in her otherwise tumultuous life.
Zara Blackthorn took her turn with a shake of the dice and a throw. The dice bounced across the table, tumbled some more, then stopped. Others at the table groaned, but Zara yelped with excitement and shook her fist in the air at the result. I looked over the shoulder of the gent in front of me and saw two pairs of dice, all showing sixes. It was an impossible throw, but then Zara was an impossible woman.
One player, a ruffian with a scar on one cheek and a spitting scowl, stomped off. No one seemed eager to take the vacated seat, so I sat down, licking fingers dripping with grease.
“Evening, Zara,” I said, gesturing with the meat stick I hadn’t yet attacked.
She met my grin with a black look almost as dark as her perfect skin. She said nothing right away, only continuing to glare at me with her death stare as the croupier cleared the table for another throw. Finally, she spoke from between thin lips. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing your face in here.”
- THE ASSASSIN’S BLADE
In Alchester, Zara has created a comfortable existence, but the specter of Gloamhaven looms large in her mind. Constantly grappling with insecurity and distrust, she keeps her guard up and divulges little about her past, making it difficult for others to truly know her. Yet, beneath her tough exterior, a flicker of vulnerability exists, and Zara longs for genuine connections while remaining ever cognizant that her past may one day catch up with her. As she navigates life in Alchester, Zara seeks to balance her identity as a master thief with her desire for belonging, all while preparing for the possibility that her former life may return to confront her when she least expects it.
FIRST APPEARANCE
Zara first appears in The Assassin's Cunning (Assassin Without a Name Book Two).
