The Court of Broken Knives
May 2017 · Empires of Dust Book 1 · Hachette+ORM
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About this ebook
" Gritty and glorious" this grimdark fantasy featuring the overthrow of a rival kingdom and a secret prince ready to claim the throne is a "great read" (Miles Cameron, author of The Traitor Son cycle)
It is the richest empire the world has ever known, and it is also doomed—but only one man can see it.
Haunted by prophetic dreams, Orhan has hired a company of soldiers to cross the desert to reach the capital city. Once they enter the palace, they have one mission: kill the emperor, then all those who remain. Only from the ashes can a new empire be built.
The company is a group of good, ordinary soldiers for whom this is a mission like any other. But the strange boy Marith who walks among them is no ordinary soldier. Though he is young, ambitious, and impossibly charming, something dark hides in Marith's past—and in his blood.
Dive into this new fantasy series for readers looking for epic battle scenes, gritty heroes, and blood-soaked revenge.
"It's a bold experiment and feels like something new. An interesting book to read and fascinating to discuss afterwards!" ―Mark Lawrence, international bestselling author of The Book that Broke the World
"Anna Smith Spark is a dynamic new voice in the field of grimly baroque fantasy." ―Scott Lynch, international bestselling author of The Lies of Locke Lamora
"Fierce, gripping fantasy, exquisitely written; bitter, funny, and heart-rending by turns." ―Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award winner for Children of Time
"Spark's gripping debut is definitely one to read and prize."— Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Should appeal to grim dark fans looking for the extreme edge." ― Kirkus Reviews
It is the richest empire the world has ever known, and it is also doomed—but only one man can see it.
Haunted by prophetic dreams, Orhan has hired a company of soldiers to cross the desert to reach the capital city. Once they enter the palace, they have one mission: kill the emperor, then all those who remain. Only from the ashes can a new empire be built.
The company is a group of good, ordinary soldiers for whom this is a mission like any other. But the strange boy Marith who walks among them is no ordinary soldier. Though he is young, ambitious, and impossibly charming, something dark hides in Marith's past—and in his blood.
Dive into this new fantasy series for readers looking for epic battle scenes, gritty heroes, and blood-soaked revenge.
"It's a bold experiment and feels like something new. An interesting book to read and fascinating to discuss afterwards!" ―Mark Lawrence, international bestselling author of The Book that Broke the World
"Anna Smith Spark is a dynamic new voice in the field of grimly baroque fantasy." ―Scott Lynch, international bestselling author of The Lies of Locke Lamora
"Fierce, gripping fantasy, exquisitely written; bitter, funny, and heart-rending by turns." ―Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award winner for Children of Time
"Spark's gripping debut is definitely one to read and prize."— Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Should appeal to grim dark fans looking for the extreme edge." ― Kirkus Reviews
" Gritty and glorious" this grimdark fantasy featuring the overthrow of a rival kingdom and a secret prince ready to claim the throne is a "great read" (Miles Cameron, author of The Traitor Son cycle)
It is the richest empire the world has ever known, and it is also doomed—but only one man can s...
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Ratings and reviews
10 reviews
Jami Lukins
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July 9, 2026
I tried to like this, but the amount of fragmented sentences makes this unreadable. Even the complete sentences read like a first draft. I just read two sentences in a row describing a character that both started with "his hands" and that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. It is not "poetic prose." It's extremely rough and repetitive. If you're into that, power to you, but it's not for me unfortunately.
Al Burke
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June 30, 2019
A uniquely written, dark and politically drivem exploration of violence. A must read for fantasy fans, but it's not for the faint of heart.
2 people found this review helpful
About the author
Anna Smith Spark lives in London, UK. She loves grimdark and epic fantasy and historical military fiction. Anna has a BA in Classics, an MA in history and a PhD in English Literature. She has previously been published in the Fortean Times and the poetry website www.greatworks.org.
Anna Smith Spark lives in London, UK. She loves grimdark and epic fantasy and historical military fiction. Anna has a BA in Classics, an MA in history and a PhD in English Literature. She has previously been published in the Fortean Times and the poetry website www.greatworks.org.
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