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Pennyblade

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( 272 ratings, 93 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Pennyblade by J.L. Worrad, the story centres on Kyra Cal'Adra, a fiercely independent mercenary navigating a world of political intrigue and magical conflicts. Hailing from a noble Elvish family, she has turned her back on privilege to forge her own path. Her latest mission delves deep into the heart of a conspiracy that could alter the course of nations, testing her resilience and loyalties.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to gritty fantasy worlds filled with complex characters and intricate plots. It offers a blend of dark humour, action, and the magic of its richly developed setting. Fans of morally ambiguous protagonists and inventive world-building are likely to find it particularly appealing.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A sharp-tongued disgraced-noble-turned-mercenary has to stop the world collapsing into chaos in this gripping, savagely funny epic fantasy packed with unforgettable characters, for fans of Joe Abercrombie.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A sharp-tongued, disgraced-noble-turned-mercenary must prevent the world from falling into chaos in this gripping, savagely funny epic fantasy, packed with unforgettable characters for fans of Joe Abercrombie.

Exile. Mercenary. Lover. Monster. Pennyblade.

Kyra Cal'Adra has spent the last four years on the Main, living in exile from her home, her people, her lover, and her past. A highblood commrach—the ancient race of the Isle, dedicated to tradition and the perfection of the blood—she is welcome among the humans of the Main only for the skill of her rapier, her preternatural bladework. They don't care which of the gleaming towers she came from, nor that her grandmother is the matriarch of one of Corso's most powerful families.

But on the Main, women loving women is a sin punishable by death. Kyra is haunted by the ghost of Shen, the love of her life, a lowblood servant woman whom Kyra left behind as she fled the Isle. When a simple contract goes awry, and her fellow pennyblades betray her, Kyra is set onto a collision course with her old life, and the age-old conflict between the Main and the Isle threatens to erupt once more.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Pennyblade by J.L. Worrad has been praised for its provocative and decadent storytelling. Reviewers highlight its ability to subvert traditional fantasy tropes with a mix of ferocious action and intrigue, enhanced by a vivid and imaginative narrative. The protagonist, Kyra Cal'Adra, is noted for being a compelling and lethal character amidst a chaotic adventure. The book intertwines a rich cast with elements of violence and a bittersweet love story, offering a fresh and original take within the fantasy genre.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781789097610

Publisher: Titan Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 March 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Titan Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 416

About the Author

James Worrad lives in Leicester, England, and has for almost all his life. In 2011 James attended Clarion, the prestigious six-week SF workshop held at the University of California, San Diego. There, he studied under some of the genre's leading professionals and also got to see a lot of wild hummingbirds. 2018 saw the publication of his first and second novel, the space opera duology Feral Space. He's had short stories published by Daily Science Fiction, Flurb, Newcon Press and Obverse Books.

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