COURT OF BROKEN KNIVES-EMPI_HB - Hardcover

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.

"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


"Spark's gripping debut is definitely one to read and prize."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Spark's first novel lives up to its billing as a 'grimdark' tale. The setting may be bleak and dreary, but the worldbuilding is well done and the characters fit right in. Troubled, solitary and downright drug-addled as the protagonist is, readers will come around to his side as the reasons why he seeks for the throne he lost are revealed."―RT Book Reviews

"This outstanding, unputdownable debut holds and horrifies like a blood-spattered tapestry. There's rough humour, high drama and a love of story-telling that shines through every page. Plus it's got dragons with bad breath. Brilliant."―The Daily Mail (UK)

"Should appeal to grim dark fans looking for the extreme edge."―Kirkus