For one apprentice assassin, the clock is ticking . . .
Pyrre Lakatur doesn’t like the description
skullsworn. It doesn’t capture the beauty of her devotion to Ananshael, God of Death. And she’s not an assassin, but a
priestess. Or she will be, if she can pass her final trial. The problem isn’t killing, as Pyrre has spent her life training for this. The problem is love. To pass the trial, she will have fourteen days to kill seven people detailed in an ancient song, including one true love, ‘who will not come again’. However, Pyrre has never been in love, time is short, and if she fails she’ll be given to her god.
Pyrre’s not afraid to die, but she hates to fail. So a month before the trial begins, she returns to the violent city of her birth, where she once offered an abusive father to the god. Here Pyrre hopes to find love – and end it with the edge of her knife.
About the Author
After more than a decade teaching history, religion, and philosophy, Brian decided to write epic fantasy. He now lives on a steep dirt road in the hills of southern Vermont, where he divides his time between fathering, writing, husbanding, splitting wood, skiing, and adventuring - not necessarily in that order.
Industry Reviews
Brilliant -- V. E. Schwab Pleasantly grim and emotionally complex . . . an accessible entree for new readers, who will undoubtedly go on to consume the rest of the series' * Kirkus Reviews * Lush, evocative descriptions sharpen the setting . . . Visceral action scenes and memorable characters bring this tale to life. Despite the outsize aspects of this adventure, it still feels remarkably intimate * Publishers Weekly * Brian Staveley deftly weaves a fast-paced and compelling tale filled with excellent characterization, vivid world-building, and high personal stakes, making this one an outstanding novel on every level * Bibliosanctum * Skullsworn is a fantastic standalone book with a very satisfying conclusion * The Book Bag * Skullsworn displays Staveley's signature bleak style, characters that are teeming with conflict and inner turmoil and exciting small and large-scale fight scenes that should keep every fan of the genre entertained . . . it makes me look forward to my next foray into this exciting universe and makes it easy to give this one a very high recommendation * Fantasy Faction * This is a warm, funny, character focused novel which is also darkly charming, bloody, and lethal. It was very, very hard to put down, and had an emotional punch to match its high adrenaline moments. If you enjoyed the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne, this is a more than worthy successor text - and if you've never read those, you can pick this up, and know you're in for a fantastic (if sometimes violent) journey * SF & F Reviews * Highly recommend, especially for fans of female characters that like to kick ass and not always follow the rules * Speculative Herald * A highly engrossing fantasy world * Fantasy Book Review * Brian Staveley is a must-read author * The Book Geek * Kept me mesmerized from start to finish . . . Unique, bold, and exciting, Skullsworn is not to be missed * Qwillery *
