“This stand-alone companion to Tucholke’s The Boneless Mercies reimagines the legend of King Arthur—with a twist . . . Reader won’t want this one to end.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
On the heels of a devastating plague, Torvi’s sister, Morgunn is stolen from the family farm by Uther, a flame-loving Fremish wolf-priest who leads a pack of ragged, starving girls. Torvi leaves the only home she’s ever known, and joins a shaven-skulled druid and a band of roaming Elsh artists known as the Butcher Bards. They set out on a quest to rescue Torvi’s sister, and find a mythical sword.
On their travels, Torvi and her companions will encounter magical night wilds and mystical Drakes who trade in young men. They will sing rowdy Elshland ballads in a tree-town tavern, and find a mysterious black tower in an Endless Forest. They will fight alongside famous Vorseland archers and barter with Fremish wizards. They will feast with rogue Jade Fell children in a Skal Mountain cave, and seek the help of a Pig Witch. They will face wild, dangerous magic that leads to love, joy, tragedy, and death.
Torvi sets out to rescue a sister, but she may find it’s merely the first step toward a life that is grander and more glorious than anything she could have imagined.
“Tucholke conjures a mythic, richly described landscape . . . the strong focus on found family and feminine strengths further enhance this tale’s emotional impact.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Beautiful and ancient in feel . . . readers will fall beneath Tucholke’s spell. A lovely tale of quests and camaraderie.” —Booklist
