| Skullsworn by Brian Staveley |
Another day, another cover reveal missed! Last week, Brian Staveley and Tor revealed the cover art for Skullsworn, a new novel set in the world of The Emperor’s Blades. And yes, that can only mean one thing – another absolutely phenomenal cover by Richard Anderson!
Anderson’s artwork never fails to blow me away and has become an unchallenged fantasy favourite. With his dynamic compositions, recognisable style and effortless blend of a vibrant and muted palette, this cover reveal has left me itching to get my hands on – and possibly frame – Skullsworn.
Remember to check out the Tor post for the inside scoop and a whole host of wonderful sketches!
Skullsworn
by Brian Staveley
Artwork by Richard Anderson
Tor US – April 2017
| Synopsis |
Brian Staveley’s new standalone returns to the critically acclaimed Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne universe, following a priestess attempting to join the ranks of the God of Death.
Pyrre Lakatur doesn’t like the word skullsworn. It fails to capture the faith and grace, the peace and beauty of her devotion to the God of Death. She is not, to her mind, an assassin, not a murderer–she is a priestess. At least, she will be a priestess if she manages to pass her final trial.
The problem isn’t the killing. Pyrre has been killing and training to kill, studying with some of the most deadly men and women in the world, since she was eight. The problem, strangely, is love. To pass her Trial, Pyrre has ten days to kill the ten people enumerated in an ancient song, including “the one you love / who will not come again.”
Pyrre is not sure she’s ever been in love. If she were a member of a different religious order, a less devoted, disciplined order, she might cheat. The Priests of Ananshael, however, don’t look kindly on cheaters. If Pyrre fails to find someone to love, or fails to kill that someone, they will give her to the god.
Pyrre’s not afraid to die, but she hates to quit, hates to fail, and so, with a month before her trial begins, she returns to the city of her birth, the place where she long ago offered an abusive father to the god and abandoned a battered brother—in the hope of finding love…and ending it on the edge of her sword.
What do you think of the cover for Skullsworn? Does this sound like something you would read?
Books by Proxy 
Richard Anderson is the best. I was actually lucky enough to meet him at Boskone earlier this year. He signed a ton of books I had that he did the covers, had a couple great conversations with him, and I was even able to get a print of Beyond Redemptions 🙂 Anderson is a great guy. Blown away by how nice and down-to-earth he was.
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Oh how lucky! And that’s so cool. I’m so jealous of all those gorgeous US Unhewn Throne covers – will definitely have to order me some! 😀
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To say that the premise of this book sounds fascinating would be a massive understatement – and since I keep hearing good things about B. Staveley but have not read anything by him, yet, this could very well be the perfect place to start.
The cover is amazing: I love the central point of dark blending into the darkness at the edges.
Thanks for sharing!
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It really is gorgeous, isn’t it?! I can’t stop looking. I’m yet to read any of Staveley’s writing too but The Emperor’s Blades has found itself conveniently lined up on my kindle! Can’t wait to start this series 😀
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Amazing cover. And I had not heard about his book at all. Really have to finish out the first series soon.
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Glad to be of service! 😛 It’s absolutely gorgeous, isn’t it? I really have to get on with these novels. Nothing could possibly be bad with covers this good! 😀
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