Publishers Weekly
11/06/2017
Marshall concludes his Crimson Empire fantasy trilogy with more of the mayhem and magical chaos that readers enjoyed in the first two books. The now-aged “baddest of the bad,” war leader Cold Zosia, won a legendary battle but then failed miserably as queen. She keeps jumping back into trouble: first to save the new queen, Indsorith, who once tried to kill her, and then to save her world from being overrun by hordes of demons and other evils. All she has to do is escape a death sentence, find her scattered friends, and resolve to go down fighting if the world ends. Ragged, sharp edged, and expansively flawed Zosia is still the center of the story, but Marshall broadens the story and gives her far-flung friends and enemies more depth and time in the spotlight. The heroes and villains now face brutal extremities, including literal hells, that flay them open and expose every bit of bravery and evil within them; these personal developments are as cataclysmic as the epic final battle. This is a must-read for fans of Marshall and the Crimson Empire’s antiheroes. Agent: Sally Harding, Cooke Agency. (Dec.)
From the Publisher
"A fitting conclusion to an original and exciting fantasy trilogy."—Booklist on A War in Crimson Embers
"Thrilling action set pieces."—Kirkus on A War in Crimson Embers
"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
"Alex Marshall builds a sprawling world that grows larger and deeper with every page. Instantly believable. 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
"Brimming with imagination and invention... Fabulous!"—John Gwynne on A Crown for Cold Silver
"Exceptional writing, middle-aged warrior heroine, and organically infused gender nonconformity make this fantasy epic a first-rate trailblazer... splendid storytelling, wry humor, and unresolved intrigue."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on A Crown for Cold Silver
"This brawny revenge fantasy feels like a Tarantino movie: a hugely entertaining mix of adventure and comedy, punctuated by moments of darkness, with clever dialogue and explosive set-pieces... 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
"A rollicking, obscene, subversive, and zany epic fantasy ride."
—B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog
Kirkus Reviews
2018-01-23
Apocalypse, rebellion, betrayal, and blood-soaked quests for personal redemption drive the plot of the final volume of the grimdark Crimson Empire trilogy (A Blade of Black Steel, 2016, etc.).The island of Jex Toth has risen from the First Dark, and its devil-possessed council of undead sorcerers plans to purge the continent of the Star and restore the Fallen Mother, who, although worshiped by the Church of the Burnished Chain, is less a goddess and more an extremely powerful devil. Meanwhile, deposed Queen Indsorith of the Crimson Empire and her predecessor and unlikely ally, Cold Zosia, face an army of revolutionaries in the ruined city of Diadem, Gen. Ji-hyeon of the Cobalt Company is lost in the hellish landscapes of the First Dark with a newly mutated eye, and a motley group heads toward Jex Toth in search of the mercenary Maroto, who, for his part, makes some incredibly dubious and self-serving choices at first to save his life and then to salve his conscience. Will our widely scattered heroes manage to join together and stave off an apocalypse teeming with slimy monsters and floods of crawling sentient bugs? Alex Marshall is the pen name of Jesse Bullington (The Folly of the World, 2012); the relationship should've been obvious from the first, given both personas' penchant for lovingly described grotesquerie and the lavish spurting of a variety of bodily fluids. There are also thrilling action set pieces, the tying off of most (but not all) loose ends, and multistage battle sequences, all building up to, well, somewhat of a fizzle. The author may intend the climax as a cynical metacommentary on how such epics usually end; or perhaps to explain how it isn't the end that's important, just the messy, limb-destroying journey to get there.Satisfying, almost.
