Synopses & Reviews
From the "inventive, irreverent" (
Green Man Review) author of
Broken Blade comes a new Fallen Blade novel featuring Aral Kingslayer. Former temple assassin Aral Kingslayer has a price on his head and a mark on his soul. After his goddess was murdered, Aral found refuge in the shadow jack business, fixing problems for those on the fringes of Tien’s underworld. It’s a long step down from working for the Goddess of Justice, but it gives Aral and Triss—the living shadow who is his secret partner—a reason to get up in the morning.
When two women hit a rough spot in the tavern Aral uses for an office, he and Triss decide to lend a helping hand--only to find themselves in the middle of a three-way battle to find an artifact that just might be the key to preventing a war. And with so many factions on their trail, Aral and Triss are attracting a lot more attention than anyone featured on ten thousand wanted posters can afford…
Review
“Aral the Jack, formerly the noble Aral Kingslayer, is the best kind of hero.” --Alex Bledsoe, author of
Dark Jenny and
The Sword-Edged Blonde “McCullough seems to get better with every story.” --Huntress Book Reviews eloquence quotes
Review
Praise for the Fallen Blade novels: and#8220;A fascinating world.and#8221;and#8212;Fresh Fiction
and#8220;The Blade novels are absolutely fabulous.and#8221;and#8212;Night Owl Reviews
and#8220;Kelly McCulloughand#8217;s writing style is indefinable, his imagination is creative and unique, and his plot execution is simply exquisite!and#8221;and#8212;Huntress Book Reviews
and#8220;Aral the jack, formerly the noble Aral Kingslayer, is the best kind of hero: damaged, cynical, and despondent, yet needing only the right cause to rise from his own ashes.and#8221;and#8212;Alex Bledsoe, author of The Hum and the Shiver
Synopsis
Once one of the worldand#8217;s greatest assassins, Aral Kingslayer has finally reclaimed his swords and his soul. But the forces that destroyed his patron Namara twelve years ago are still there, waiting, and his past as a Blade is never more than a shadowand#8217;s breadth away.
In the days before the fall of his goddess, only one other rivaled Araland#8217;s skills, Siri the Mythkillerand#151;a woman who ruthlessly earned the title First Blade. As a friend, Aral owes her his loyalty. As a former lover, he owes her part of his heart. As a Blade, he owes her anything she asks, including his life.
When Siri seeks Araland#8217;s aid, he knows he must go. But as they journey towards the ancient Sylvani Empire, only time will reveal whether Aral can save the former First Blade, or if he will simply fall with herand#133;
About the Author
Kelly McCullough was raised and educated by free-range hippies. Later he received a degree in theater and worked in improv. That combination was the perfect preparation for his current career as author and cat herder. He lives in the Midwest with his physics-professor wife, Laura. He enjoys hiking and biking and his role as self-heating cat furniture. He is the author of the WebMage (Spellcrash, MythOS, Codespell)and#160;and Fallen Blade series (Broken Blade, Bared Blade, Crossed Blades, Blade Reforged).