A. K. Larkwood’s The Unspoken Name is a stunning debut fantasy about a young priestess sentenced to die, who at the last minute escapes her fate; only to become an assassin for the wizard who saved her.What if you knew how and when you will die?Csorwe does—she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice. But on the day of her foretold … sacrifice.
But on the day of her foretold death, a powerful mage offers her a new fate. Leave with him, and live. Turn away from her destiny and her god to become a thief, a spy, an assassin—the wizard’s loyal sword. Topple an empire, and help him reclaim his seat of power.
But Csorwe will soon learn—gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due.
“In the vein of Le Guin’s magnificent Tombs of Atuan—if Arha the Eaten One got to grow up to be a swordswoman mercenary in thrall to her dubious wizard mentor. I love this book so much.”—Arkady Martine, author of A Memory Called Empire
”I cannot recommend it enough.” — Tamsyn Muir, author of Gideon the Ninth
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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A breathtaking journey. It’s epic fantasy with both creeping, omnipresent horrors and yet a tenacious, delicate warmth.
The Unspoken Name has everything — spine-tingling prose, gorgeous worldbuilding, powerful older women, found family (but it’s terrible), giant snakes, ancient tombs, dead gods, and true love. It’s fantastic. I read it in one sitting.
Well this is a very strong beginning to this fantasy series that doesn’t shy away from diversity. Our protagonist is Csorwe, a fourteen year old orphan raised by the church that reveres the Unspoken One to be what I can only describe as a sacrificial virgin . This isn’t something she’s questioned previously but Csorwe knows her death won’t really change things or indeed help anyone so when a powerful Mage offers to take her away and train her she’s definitely tempted. Csorwe could be so much more than a temporary mouth piece for a God that brings death and the plucky Csorwe takes her courage in her hands and walks away to a life of adventure, servitude and danger !
We follow Csorwe as she learns to protect herself and become so much more than she ever dreamed. With frenemies, great world building and definitely nasty enemies along the way this was a very entertaining read. I did struggle somewhat with the pacing but it definitely improved towards the halfway point. I loved the characters although I had guessed the big reveal. Still I applaud the author for giving us such a strong, well balanced protagonist because reading about her personal growth was a wonderful experience. Plus Csorwe isn’t some pretty blue eyed, blonde heroine but she’s grey with tusks and I almost had an Ork type in my minds eye which was very refreshing.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I floved this funny, original, action-packed fantasy full of queer characters and swords and sleeping gods and epic landscapes. What a wild ride! A total escape and a gorgeous book.
One of the my favorite epic fantasy reads of the past few years. Original, unpredictable, action-packed. Even if there were more competition in the lesbian orc subgenre, Larkwood’s debut would still stand head and shoulders above the rest.
A stranger talks a God’s chosen sacrifice out of giving her life away. This will not be the first time the Gods affect the lives of the characters. Csorwe choses among the possibilities for the life she didn’t think she’d have. Along the way she meets a wizardess trapped by expectations like she was, and the two of them form a bond. A myriad of different worlds connected by gates provide a fascinating background for this tale of sword and sorcery.
A truly wonderful book… grabbed my attention on the first page and wouldn’t let go. Fresh, exciting and new, with fascinating characters, shifting alliances, impossible odds, breathtaking settings, and shocking twists.
An astounding debut, written with skill and stunning assurance. The worlds this story spans are as exotic and dangerous as the characters who traverse them. From its flawless first page to its bittersweet last, The Unspoken Name is unlike anything I’ve read before.
Takes all the tropes of fantasy — orcs and epic quests, dead gods and undead souls, daring rescues and last-second escapes — and spins them into something wild and new. A dizzy, delicious debut.
Larkwood’s debut is a fresh, fun take on the genre, packed with smart prose, badass characters, and fantastic worldbuilding. A necessary addition for any fantasy lover’s collection.
An unexpected and new take on classic orcs ‘n’ swords fantasy. Stylish, classy, and timeless — but with racing stripes and an inbuilt camera. I cannot recommend it enough.
A.K. Larkwood’s The Unspoken Name is an epic fantasy in the vein of Le Guin’s magnificent Tombs of Atuan — if Arha the Eaten One got to grow up to be a swordswoman mercenary in thrall to her dubious wizard mentor. The action is fast-paced and emotionally compelling; the magic is dangerous, beautiful, and utterly compromising. I love this book so much.
What a glorious book! Richly detailed, enthralling, and extraordinary, with brilliant nods to such luminaries as Ursula K. Le Guin and Diana Wynne Jones. A.K. Larkwood’s book hooked me in from the first page and never let go. Fabulous, in every meaning of the word.