A Blade of Black Steel

By: Alex Marshall

Narrated by: Angèle Masters

The sequel to Alex Marshall's A Crown for Cold Silver, an outstanding, game-changing epic adventure featuring an unforgettable warrior.

After five hundred years, the Sunken Kingdom has returned, and brought with it a monstrous secret that threatens to destroy every country on the Star.

As an inhuman army gathers on its shores, poised to invade the Immaculate Isles, the members of the Cobalt Company face an ugly choice: abandon their dreams of glory and vengeance to combat a menace from another realm, or pursue their ambitions and hope the Star is still there when the smoke clears.

Five villains. One legendary general. A battle for survival.

Critic reviews

"This is a fitting follow-up to the first Crimson Empire book; full of bloody battles and strong females... The writing and setting are rich... Purna is a strong character who adds an interesting dynamic to the twisted and surprising story."—RT Book Reviews on A Blade of Black Steel

"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 on A Crown for Cold Silver

"Zosia and her Five Villains are as fun as they are twisted."—David Dalglish on A Crown for Cold Silver

"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 on A Crown for Cold Silver

"Exceptional...a first-rate trailblazer."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A Crown for Cold Silver

"Feels like a Tarantino movie... A pure joy to read."—Booklist (starred review) on A Crown for Cold Silver

"A Crown for Cold Silver drags epic fantasy through the mud - but it does so with wit, wonder and wisdom."—NPR Books on A Crown for Cold Silver

"This lusty debut will have you gasping in one breath and laughing in the next...Marshall is playing a long, glorious game."—Washington Post on A Crown for Cold Silver

"Enough fiendish political maneuvering to make George R.R. Martin jealous."—Shelf Awareness on A Crown for Cold Silver

"An epic tale of invasion, civil war, and divine incursion."—Kirkus on A Crown for Cold Silver

Just as good as the first, can't wait for the next

the story great and the connection the characters make with one another is so captivating.

well-paced, funny, and entertaining fantasy

Yes! For a fantasy reader in his 40s that rarely ever comes across gay/bi heroes in fiction, it's so exciting to read an author who creates a world with gender and sexual fluidity. It's fun to finally see yourself in characters. After awhile, no matter how great the story, it becomes tedious always reading about stereotypical hetero males. The characters are as funny and memorable as Abercrombie's books. At first I was surprised by the drug use in the book, since you don't see it often in fantasy literature, but it became charming, like magic potions or herbal remedies from AD&D games.

Some of the best grimdark out there.

I read this book because I ran out of Abercrombie's First Law World to read, and it did not disappoint. If you like Abercrombie's style but want to see it done with a few twists, read this series. if you don't know who Abercrombie is, read First Law Trilogy and then read this series.
Alex Marshall is a master of dramatic irony, ultraviolence, and the complexities of human behavior. This series has some of the best characters and relationships in epic fantasy, even if most of them are totally irredeemable scumbag, drug addicts, and murderers.
Chock full of washed up old villains trying to do wrong right, a system of creepy ass devil magic, an ecosystem of insects and arachnids that get you high if they don't kill you, and a grim cynical political economy that demonstrates how religious institutions sometimes get wrong even what they get right, this series is a bittersweet, fun, trope-defying heartbreak from start to finish.

this is the new best author I've heard in years!

I have >600 books in my library. 75% fantasy 25% mystery/thriller. This is TOTALLY original.

Great sequel!

This was just as great as the first installment! I totally enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the next.