An assassin vows to become the best in her profession so she can surpass the person who killed someone close to her during the fierce and ugly Battle of Seif. Unfortunately for Iris Lapis, she winds up a target when her hits earn her both a measure of notoriety and a bounty on her head. Two enemy assassins approach her individually claiming they can help get her out of her dire situation, but with apparent secrets of their own, can they be trusted? Iris best keep her wits about her because it’s kill or be killed in the dark fantasy otome VN Garden of Seif: Chronicles of an Assassin. She dances on the knife’s edge between trust and betrayal, hoping not only to survive but also see her goals to fruition.
I first became exposed to Garden of Seif‘s setting in the alternate standalone side story Garden of Seif: Curse of Gravehollow Peaks, now available with extra content on Steam. That title features Iris and one of her enemy love interests, the redheaded Seth, in a snowy adventure. Given its brief length, it was a short, enjoyable diversion that didn’t provide much narrative choice. What I did gain in Curse of Gravehollow Peaks was a burning eagerness to experience more of its fantasy setting and characters. In that regard, Chronicles of an Assassin doesn’t disappoint, offering a more in-depth look at Iris and Seth while introducing new characters and lore.
Garden of Seif: Chronicles of an Assassin splits Iris’s story of vengeance and proving herself into two distinct routes. One follows the returning Seth, while the other focuses on a mysterious newcomer enigmatically calling himself the Dust Hunter. Making decisions throughout the chapters in each route causes you to gain trust or betrayal points with either character, causing the story to go in different directions and multiple endings. I preferred gaining trust over betrayal points, ultimately resulting in very fulfilling endings.
Chronicles of an Assassin plays very much like a traditional visual novel. You-as-Iris progress through the text until you must make a decision. Along with the trust and betrayal decision points, you have “flavor” choices that color Iris’s reactions. There are also prominent choices that can lead to abrupt endings. The “flavor” choices are interesting additions, though they’re more superficial than anything else. Depending on how you advance the narrative, you also get to see chapters from the perspectives of Seth and the Dust Hunter, shedding more light on their backstories and personal motivations.
Naturally, given the route focuses on Seth and the Dust Hunter, you learn the most about them as characters. Iris is a particularly fascinating main character, too. She’s stubborn, strong-willed, opinionated, and has very realistic flaws and weaknesses. I enjoyed the reveals about her past and desires, and her reactions to the goings-on in the story were quite memorable.
Speaking of the cast, Iris, Seth, and the Dust Hunter are far from the only characters. The “fairy godmother” Zhaara from Curse of Gravehollow Peaks makes a return appearance, and I like the later narrative reveals involving an enigmatic character. Iris has three friends from her hometown looking out for her: the greatsword-wielding baker Mara, the chicken wing-loving Duran, and the rising influential scholar Malzahar. Other characters have colorful personalities and exciting backstories peppered throughout. I enjoyed learning more about the cast and their places in the plot, especially since some have some surprising secrets to uncover depending on how you play.
That isn’t to say that the game’s story is flawless. While I genuinely appreciate Iris as a character, I can see where she might not be everyone’s cup of tea as far as protagonists go. Plus, the constant guessing of “who will betray who next” drags on at specific points. However, I found the narrative’s more morally ambiguous tone refreshing and its dialogue memorable. There’s also a discrepancy between the two character routes, with the Dust Hunter’s arguably having more impact on the overall plot and various characters connected to Iris than Seth’s. Both routes are excellent in their way, but I feel like something “more” was added to the Dust Hunter’s, especially if you reach his route’s true ending. Given later plot reveals, I recommend going with Seth’s route first since it provides mystery buildups that get resolved when you jump into the Dust Hunter’s.
Each route takes roughly four hours to complete. While you can skip familiar text, a story map would be a welcome addition for those trying to pursue different endings. The game itself is sparse in terms of extras. There’s a gallery for unlocked CG illustrations along with a helpful journal for collected lore gained as you play, but that’s about it, save for credits. For this review, I used the Steam Deck, and I want to note that the game plays well as a handheld.
Graphically, Garden of Seif: Chronicles of an Assassin is a stunning VN. I love the art direction for the character designs and backgrounds and how facially expressive every character is. As you play, the CG illustrations you can unlock have a very “action-oriented” vibe with fluidity, almost akin to animation stills. I also love the bright bursts of color that occur during intense moments in the plot, although those sensitive to flashing lights should heed the developers’ warning. The music and sound effects are dynamic and fitting for their respective scenes, as depicted in the game’s opening. There’s quite a lot of text, and the extensive scriptwork is impressive despite occasional typographical errors.
Overall, Garden of Seif: Chronicles of an Assassin is a solid fantasy VN with darker undertones intended for those who don’t mind exciting angles on the “enemies to lovers” trope. It’s a visual feast for the eyes, though the slight narrative imbalance between the two character routes and lack of a story map can be hindrances. I enjoyed the solid worldbuilding and realistically flawed characters enough that I’m glad I picked this title up following Curse of Gravehollow Peaks. Iris’ quest in Garden of Seif is intriguing, with plenty of exciting twists and turns for VN fans.
