Welcome to Riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power in the city's ballrooms, brothels and boudoirs. Into this alluring world walks a well-bred country girl versed in the rules of conventional society. When her uncle decides it would be more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to marriage, her world changes forever.

"Kushner's winning high fantasy with its sophisticated swordplay marks a welcome return to the romantic Riverside world she introduced in Swordspoint (1987). Coming-of-age gets complicated for winsome Lady Katherine Samantha Campion Talbert after she's shipped off to her uncle, the Mad Duke of Tremontaine (aka David Alexander 'Alec' Tielman Campion), who reigns over a decadent world of erotic and political intrigue. At first Kate's frightened of becoming a swashbuckler, but after training with the duke's favorite lover, the dashing Richard St. Vier, and becoming friends with Marcus, Alec's devoted young assistant, she finds she's more than up for the task. Her skills are tested in her effort to avenge the rape of her best friend, Lady Artemesia Fitz-Levy, by one of her uncle's foes, Anthony Deverin (aka Lord Ferris, Crescent Chancellor of the Council of Lords). Kate's discovery that 'Fear is enemy to the sword' and love is the key to triumph leads to surprising consequences." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"It's beautifully written, breezy, quick, hysterically funny, poignant and bloody and world-weary and heartrendingly naive by turns. This is a fantastic book, a coming-of-age story, and I love it with a quite deep and unreasonable love".—Elizabeth Bear, author of Worldwired

"Winning high fantasy ... a welcome return to the romantic Riverside world Kushner introduced in Swordspoint."—Publishers Weekly

"One of the most gorgeous books I've ever read: it's witty and wonderful, with characters that will provoke, charm and delight."—Holly Black, author of Tithe and Valiant

"A magical mixture of Dumas and Georgette Heyer. The dialogue dazzles and so does the swordplay."—Kelly Link, author of Magic For Beginners

"A swashbuckler for women—splendid!"—Tamora Pierce

“Unholy fun, and wholly fun...an elegant riposte, dazzlingly executed.” – Gregory Maguire, NYT bestselling author of Wicked

"It's beautifully written, breezy, quick, hysterically funny, poignant and bloody and world-weary and heartrendingly naive by turns. This is a fantastic book, a coming-of-age story, and I love it with a quite deep and unreasonable love".—Elizabeth Bear, author of Worldwired

"Winning high fantasy ... a welcome return to the romantic Riverside world Kushner introduced in Swordspoint."—Publishers Weekly

"One of the most gorgeous books I've ever read: it's witty and wonderful, with characters that will provoke, charm and delight."—Holly Black, author of Tithe and Valiant

"A magical mixture of Dumas and Georgette Heyer. The dialogue dazzles and so does the swordplay."—Kelly Link, author of Magic For Beginners

"A swashbuckler for women—splendid!"—Tamora Pierce

“Unholy fun, and wholly fun...an elegant riposte, dazzlingly executed.” – Gregory Maguire, NYT bestselling author of Wicked

Ellen Kushner is a novelist, performer, and public radio personality. Her work includes the weekly notational public radio series PRI’s Sound & Spirit with Ellen Kushner, the recording The Golden Dreydl: a Klezmer ‘Nutcracker’ for Chanukah (Ryykodisc CD) and a live performance piece, Esther: the feast of Masks. Her novels Swordpoint and (with Delia Sherman) The Fall of Kings share a setting and quite a few characters with The Privilege of The Swords. She is a member of Terri Windling’s Endicott Studio for Mythic Arts and co-founder of the Interstitial Arts Foundation. She lives in New York City and travels a lot, giving shows and readings, lecturing and teaching. You can keep up with her whereabouts and learn more about Riverside and its denizens at www.EllenKushner.com

Her novel Thomas the Rhymer won the World Fantasy Award.