Description
In a darkly magical city, guilds vie with thieves, nobles and outsiders for power as disaster looms. RJ Barker is a critically acclaimed and award-winning British author, and this is his most unique and page-turning tale yet. For all those who loved Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.
He can speak to the dead. But the living want him silenced . . .
Irody Hasp's unique gift is his curse: he reads the final thoughts of the dead. But a routine reading of a lowly records keeper implicates him in a vast, high-level conspiracy. Then the unthinkable happens: his own apprentice is brutally murdered and Irody is framed for the crime. As he stumbles deeper into a web of magic and betrayal, he draws the attention of the City of Elbay's most powerful and ruthless figures.
With the city's corrupt elite closing in, Irody has just one chance to clear his name and expose the truth. No Mortedant is popular, - but the uncompromising Irody is even less popular than most. So he's forced to rely on unlikely allies: Mirial, a cunning street urchin, and Whisper. A stranger to his city and estranged from her clan, the enigmatic sea people. As this unlikely trio unearths Elbay's darkest secrets, they discover a city where lives are expendable and every faction, from guilds to nobles to thieves, battles for control. Three insignificant outsiders must fight not just for their lives, but for everything their people hold dear - and the fate of their magical city.
Praise for RJ Barker
'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller'
Nicholas Eames
'A splendid fantasy work, full of RJ's trademark invention. Highly recommended'
Adrian Tchaikovsky
'A fascinating, compelling novel . . . .epic themes, epically strange worldbuilding, and excellent action scenes'
Locus
About the Author
RJ Barker is a critically acclaimed and award-winning author of fantasy fiction. He won the 2020 British Fantasy Society's Robert Holdstock award for Best Novel for his fourth novel, The Bone Ships.
His debut trilogy The Wounded Kingdom (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) was nominated for the David Gemmel Award, the Kitschie Golden Tentacle, The Compton Crook and the BFS Best Debut and Best Novel awards.
It was called 'Thoroughly entertaining and constantly impressive' by the Fantasy Hive, 'One of the best fantasy series you will ever read' by the BFS, and 'A singular sensational new voice in epic fantasy' by Kings of the Wyld author Nicholas Eames.
Reviews
Excellent . . . one of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I've seen in years -- Adrian Tchaikovsky on The Bone Ships
Swashbuckling awesomeness . . . a fascinating world and a twisty plot, both rooted in characters I came to care about. A definite winner -- John Gwynne on The Bone Ships
A viciously exciting adventure. I loved every second of it -- Tasha Suri on The Bone Ships
A singular, sensational new voice in epic fantasy -- Nicholas Eames on The Bone Ships
Age of Assassins builds a compelling fantasy world and peoples it with characters you can care about. Riddled with intrigue and dangerous magic, this is a hugely enjoyable debut -- Jen Williams on Age of Assassins
A sweeping story of destiny and redemption. Weighty, deliberate, tender and brutal, this is a big, wonderful book and an utterly involving read -- The Daily Mail on Gods of the Wyrdwood
Book Information
ISBN 9781035064274
Author RJ Barker
Format Hardback
Page Count 448
Imprint Tor
Publisher Pan Macmillan
