Snakewood

by Adrian Selby

Overview

An epic fantasy like no other, Adrian Selby's debut takes an unblinking look at the price we pay for our pasts, the art of war and the people who make it their business. Enter a violent world of revenge and bloody combat with characters you'll never forget.

They called them Kailen's Twenty, a legendary band of ruthless mercenaries who gave no quarter. Living only by the code of steel, blood and coin, and aided by fightbrews that gave them the edge in battle, whoever met their price won.

Now, broken up and seemingly forgotten, they are being hunted down, one by one.

Drawn from multiple accounts compiled by a scholar investigating the legendary group's demise, who is also the son of one of the Twenty, Snakewood is fantasy at its most inventive and rewarding.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316302319
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	01/17/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Adrian Selby studied creative writing at university before embarking on a career in video game production. He worked for several big-name studios as a producer, before settling down to more conventional work in IT project management. He is a Tolkien fanatic, and online gaming addict, and lives with his wife and family on the south coast of England.

Editorial Reviews

"Set in a brutal world of subtle magic, clashing empires, and commercial interests, this is an impressive fantasy debut. Selby demonstrates the command of style, character, plotting, and world building of a seasoned author."—Booklist

Betrayal and retribution epitomize Selby's epic fantasy/thriller debut, set in an Earth-like, barbaric, drugged-up society reliant on plant-based narcotic concoctions for addictive potions and deadly poisons. His detail-heavy, conversational dialogue in memoir/journal design and his militant, Berserker-ish characters keep pages turning. Perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie.—RT Book Reviews

"Not your typical grimdark fantasy....While it's a complex tale, this is also an immensely readable one, and should appeal to fans of the immersive world-building of Brandon Sanderson. Selby constructs his world on a personal, visceral level, making sure we feel everything that happens to the narrators."—BarnesandNoble.com

"I give it nothing but the highest recommendation."—Grimdark Magazine

"Original and effective ... relish the well-choreographed action scenes."—Library Journal

"Contemporary and grimdark as it comes."—British Fantasy Society

"Absolutely fascinating and incredibly original."—Sense of Wonder

"Wears its grimdark on its sleeve ... a thrilling tale of adventure, betrayal, triumph and loss."—Interzone

"Grim mercenaries and badass alchemists brought to life by a bold, assured storyteller."—Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant

"A lot to enjoy, especially if you are a fan of dark, gritty, old-soldier stories."—Fantasy Faction

"Uniquely dark and gritty fantasy. An intriguing debut."—Bibliosanctum

From the Publisher

★ 03/15/2016
The mercernaries known as The Twenty were famous, once. Led by the legendary Kailen, they were unbeatable in countless battles before dissolving years ago. Now someone is hunting down the members, killing them in revenge for a decades-old betrayal. Covering ground well trodden by Joe Abercrombie, with a similar use of earthy language and extreme violence, the story offers an original and effective twist with the use of potions, plants, and poisons on the battlefield. The mercenaries drink battle brews to make them unstoppable warriors, and one can tell an old soldier from the color of his skin, as years of potions leave their mark. VERDICT While the dialect of the rough fighters will annoy some, others will simply relish the well-choreographed action scenes in this debut fantasy.—MM

Library Journal