Court of Broken Knives (Empires of Dust, 1) - Softcover

Smith Sparks, Anna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0316511420 ISBN 13: 9780316511421

Publisher: Orbit, 2017

Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Mark Lawrence and R Scott Bakker, The Court of Broken Knives is the explosive debut by one of grimdark fantasy's most exciting new voices.

Shortlisted for the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel
Shortlisted for the David Gemmell Morningstar Award

It is the richest empire the world has ever known, and it is also doomed--but only one man can see it.
Haunted by prophetic dreams, Orhan has hired a company of soldiers to cross the desert to reach the capital city. Once they enter the palace, they have one mission: kill the emperor, then all those who remain. Only from the ashes can a new empire be built.
The company is a group of good, ordinary soldiers for whom this is a mission like any other. But the strange boy Marith who walks among them is no ordinary soldier. Though he is young, ambitious, and impossibly charming, something dark hides in Marith's past--and in his blood.
Dive into this new fantasy series for readers looking for epic battle scenes, gritty heroes, and blood-soaked revenge.

About this title

About the Author:

Anna Smith Spark lives in London, UK. She loves grimdark and epic fantasy and historical military fiction. Anna has a BA in Classics, an MA in history and a PhD in English Literature. She has previously been published in the Fortean Times and the poetry website www.greatworks.org.

Review:

"It's a bold experiment and feels like something new. An interesting book to read and fascinating to discuss afterwards!"―Mark Lawrence

"Anna Smith Spark is a dynamic new voice in the field of grimly baroque fantasy, a knowing and witty provisioner of the Grand Guignol, a cheerful undertaker strolling across the graveyard and beckoning you to admire her newest additions."―Scott Lynch

"Gritty and glorious! A great read."―Miles Cameron, author of The Traitor Son Cycle

"Fierce, gripping fantasy, exquisitely written; bitter, funny, and heart-rending by turns."―Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award winner for Children of Time

"Grim, gritty, and fast paced; with great battles scenes! Anna Smith-Spark is one to watch."―Andy Remic, author of the Blood Dragon Empire series

"Anna Smith Spark's debut The Court of Broken Knives is a fevered dream of a fantasy, set in a world where the saviors also seem to be the destroyers . . . . This book may not make you worship death like its characters do, but it weaves a spell that will consume you all the same."―B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

"Anna Smith-Spark writes in a unique voice with such pace and veracity your imagination has to struggle to keep up with your eyes."―Adrian Collins, Grimdark Magazine

"Captivating."―Marc Turner, author of the Chronicles of the Exile series

"Holy crap, this is good!"―Grim Tidings

"All hail the queen of grimdark fantasy!"
―Michael R. Fletcher, author of Beyond Redemption

About this edition

• Publisher: Orbit
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0316511420
• ISBN 13: 9780316511421
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 513