Free Chapters of 2014’s best new fantasy?

Good news for those of you who make it your mission to track down ‘the next breakout fantasy author’ or simply enjoy reading the very latest in high-quality fantasy literature (bad news for those of you who, like me, already have a to-be-read list longer than your arm): The Emperor’s Blades, the debut novel of Brian Staveley and a book tipped by many to be 2014’s debut of the year, is set to have the first seven chapters released – at a rate of one a day – from now until November 11th by Tor Books.

Here’s the blurb:

The emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life path on which their father set them, their destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods.

Kaden, the heir to the Unhewn Throne, has spent eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery, learning the enigmatic discipline of monks devoted to the Blank God. An ocean away, Valyn endures the brutal training of the Kettral, elite soldiers who fly into battle on gigantic black hawks. At the heart of the empire, Minister Adare, elevated to her station by one of the emperor’s final acts, is determined to prove herself to her people. But Adare also believes she knows who murdered her father, and she will stop at nothing—and risk everything—to see that justice is meted out.

Interested? Come read Chapter one here… It’s not actually available until January 2014, but do remember to come back and let us know what you think once you’ve read the sample chapters 🙂

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