Crimson Empire

"A complex, mold-breaking fantasy protagonist." ""B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog""" "This lusty debut will have you gasping in one breath and laughing in the next with its cast of multicultural characters, gender-bending soldiers, same-sex coupled kings and warrior women of all ages who throw themselves into the fray. By the latter half of the novel, you realize Marshall is playing a long, glorious game."--Washington Post "A complex, mold-breaking fantasy protagonist."--B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog "Looking forward to see[ing] more of this complicated and dark world."--Philadelphia Free Press "Marshall's rich cast of characters .... are driven by passion, duty and humanizing, terrifying flaws... A Crown for Cold Silver drags epic fantasy through the mud - but it does so with wit, wonder and wisdom."--NPR Books "Full of bloody battles, intimidating monsters and incredible feats, fans of thoughtful storytelling, tough-as-nails heroines and absorbing fantasy will love this novel."--RT Book Reviews "This sweeping adventure is a first from Marshall and delivers a colorful cast. It sparkles with details that make a fantasy world come alive: echoes of cultures jumbled together in new ways, drug addicts who allow poisonous insects to sting them for a high, and unusual gender roles and depictions."--Library Journal (Starred Review) "This brawny revenge fantasy feels like a Tarantino movie: a hugely entertaining mix of adventure and comedy, punctuated by moments of darkness, with clever dialogue and explosive set-pieces... A pure joy to read."--Booklist (Starred Review) "Exceptional writing, middle-aged warrior heroine, and organically infused gender nonconformity make this fantasy epic a first-rate trailblazer... splendid storytelling, wry humor, and unresolved intrigue."--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) "Brimming with imagination and invention... Fabulous!"--John Gwynne "An epic fantasy that will surprise you. When was the last time you read one of those? Marshall deftly sets up and subverts expectations at every turn. If you think you know what's coming, think again."--Kameron Hurley "Alex Marshall builds a sprawling world that grows larger and deeper with every page. Instantly believable. Zosia and her Five Villains are as fun as they are twisted."--David Dalglish "This is my favorite kind of fantasy -- alternatively irreverent and brutal, with a cast of wonderfully scarred and nasty people. Any fans of Steven Erikson, Mark Lawrence, or Joe Abercrombie will love A Crown for Cold Silver; I've just finished it, and I'm already eager for more."--Django Wexler "A complex, mold-breaking fantasy protagonist." B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog" "North's talent shines out." ""Sunday Times" on "Touch"""