That Self-Same Metal (The Forge & Fracture Saga, Book 1)

by Brittany N. Williams

Overview

This stunning YA fantasy debut “seamlessly weaves together history, fantasy, culture, magic, and love” (New York Times bestselling author Daniel José Older) and is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and Justina Ireland.

The Forge & Fracture Saga brings readers the thrilling story of a Black girl (and sword expert) fighting a Fae uprising in Shakespearean London.

Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a gifted craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company, The King’s Men. Joan’s skill with her blades comes from a magical ability to control metal—an ability gifted by her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her whole family is Orisha-blessed, the Sands family have always kept tabs on the Fae presence in London.

Usually that doesn’t involve much except noting the faint glow around a Fae’s body as they try to blend in with London society, but lately, there has been an uptick in brutal Fae attacks. After Joan wounds a powerful Fae and saves the son of a cruel lord, she is drawn into political intrigue in the human and Fae worlds.

Swashbuckling, romantic, and full of the sights and sounds of Shakespeare’s London, this series starter delivers an unforgettable story—and a heroine unlike any other.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419758645
Publisher:	Amulet Books
Publication date:	04/25/2023
Series:	The Forge & Fracture Saga , #1
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	26,344
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Brittany N. Williams is an actress, writer, Co-Artistic Director of The NOLA Project, and nerd of many fandoms. She’s performed across three continents—including a year spent as a principal vocalist at Hong Kong Disneyland—and her writing has been featured on BlackNerdProblems.com, Tor.com, in The Indypendent, The Gambit, Fireside Magazine, and in the Star Wars anthology From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @BrittanyActs and at brittanynwilliams.com.

Editorial Reviews

"The theater nerd in me suspected I'd love this story of a gifted young woman who fashions weapons for Shakespeare's players, and I was not let down. Perfect for anyone looking for a fresh take on faerie magic."

#1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

Every sentence of That Self-Same Metal will thunder through your bones. Rich in place and time, with a steely protagonist at its center, I felt like I'd been spirited to another land and time.

New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wo Roshani Chokshi

"Seamlessly weaves together history, fantasy, culture, magic, and love . . . I couldn't stop reading it, and when I finished all I wanted was more. Joan Sands may be a hero in another era, but also she's the one we urgently need in books right now."

New York Times bestselling author of Shadowshaper Daniel José Older

"Wildly imaginative and refreshingly diverse, Williams weaves a twisty Shakespearean-inspired fantasy taut with intrigue."

New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Ebon J. Elle

"Williams’ debut is an absolute feast of imagination. Complex, brooding, impossible to put down."

bestselling author of A Door in the Dark Scott Reintgen

Full of nimble prose and wit as sharp as the blades on its pages, this book is nothing short of a spectacular debut . . . I know that this is going to be a groundbreaking addition to the fantasy genre.

New York Times-bestselling author Beasts of Prey Ayana Gray

★ 04/01/2023

Gr 8 Up—In her debut, Williams weaves an intricate, historically rich tapestry set in an alternate Shakespearean London, where magic exists alongside the Fae and aspects of the belief in Orisha spirits, a tradition that began in West Africa. Joan Sands, 16, has a magical ability to control metal gifted to her by Ogun, her primary Orisha, that serves her well in her position as the craftsperson in charge of stage blades for William Shakespeare's acting company, The King's Men. All of Joan's family have received blessings from the Orisha and additionally can see the glow that surrounds the Fae that walk among them, which ordinary citizens do not see. The pact that prevents the more powerful Fae from entering the human world is not renewed due to a misunderstanding at the beginning of the novel, and brutal Fae attacks that make no sense to the average London dweller are steadily increasing. After a theater performance, Joan is on her way home when she observes an attack in progress. The teen decides to intervene and ends up preventing a Fae prince from killing the child of a powerful human politician. She is then drawn into the wider struggle to prevent the Fae from overtaking the world. The relationships are well drawn and convincingly portray familial and romantic entanglements, with the main character as well as numerous secondary characters presenting as Black and LGBTQIA+. VERDICT Fans of Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas will love this start of a new series.—Susan Catlett

School Library Journal

2023-01-25
Joan Sands is a 16-year-old Black girl blessed by Ogun, the Orisha of iron, with the ability to manipulate metal.

Not only can Joan shape metal, but it also speaks to her, sharing its true name and giving her powers and strength that could cause her to hang as a witch in King James’ Protestant England. The year is 1605, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is the mainstage for Joan’s tragic first encounter with powerful Fae, faeries who are wreaking havoc in the mortal realm after almost two millennia of being bound by a pact created by Ogun. With her godfather—the only other living person blessed by Ogun—arrested, it may be up to Joan to find a way to stop the Fae from completely taking over the world. Although the fighting, on stage and off, between Joan and the real-life counterparts of the Fae characters from Shakespeare’s plays is exciting, much of the action jumps around, introducing periphery situations that are hard to connect to the main plot. While it’s clear there’s been diligent research about the time period, politics, and faery folklore, other elements—like compelling love triangles and partnerships and magical tampering with historic events—aren’t fully fleshed out, while other important threads are confusingly dropped midway through the novel. However, interesting characters offering brilliant representations of queerness and set in a glorious foundation will pull readers in.

A promising and original, if uneven, series opener. (map, historical notes) (Fantasy. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews

***STARRED REVIEW***
“Williams weaves an intricate, historically rich tapestry. Fans of Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas will love this start of a new series.”—School Library Journal






"The theater nerd in me suspected I'd love this story of a gifted young woman who fashions weapons for Shakespeare's players, and I was not let down. Perfect for anyone looking for a fresh take on faerie magic."—Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Full of nimble prose and wit as sharp as the blades on its pages, this book is nothing short of a spectacular debut . . . I know that this is going to be a groundbreaking addition to the fantasy genre.”—Ayana Gray, New York Times-bestselling author Beasts of Prey

“Every sentence of That Self-Same Metal will thunder through your bones. Rich in place and time, with a steely protagonist at its center, I felt like I'd been spirited to another land and time.”—Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves and the Aru Shah series

"Wildly imaginative and refreshingly diverse, Williams weaves a twisty Shakespearean-inspired fantasy taut with intrigue."
—J. Elle, New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Ebony

"Williams’ debut is an absolute feast of imagination. Complex, brooding, impossible to put down."—Scott Reintgen, bestselling author of A Door in the Dark

"Seamlessly weaves together history, fantasy, culture, magic, and love . . . I couldn't stop reading it, and when I finished all I wanted was more. Joan Sands may be a hero in another era, but also she's the one we urgently need in books right now."—Daniel José Older, New York Times bestselling author of Shadowshaper and Ballad & Dagger

“The fighting, on stage and off, between Joan and the real-life counterparts of the Fae characters from Shakespeare’s plays is exciting. There’s been diligent research about the time period, politics, and faery folklore. Interesting characters offering brilliant representations of queerness and set in a glorious foundation will pull readers in. Promising and original.”—Kirkus Reviews

“In her debut, Williams has crafted an addicting, original story that isn’t afraid to take risks. While the world is rooted in history and even boasts famous historical figures, the prominent Black and brown characters and exploration of queer love are a refreshing addition. With charming characters and surprising twists, this historical fantasy will delight readers of all ages.”—Booklist

"Glorious . . . starring a heroine you instantly root for and admire.”

—The New York Times

"Fast-paced and full of enthusiastic little winks to real-life people and events, That Self-Same Metal offers a fresh take on inclusive historical fantasy.”—NPR

From the Publisher

"Fast-paced and full of enthusiastic little winks to real-life people and events, That Self-Same Metal offers a fresh take on inclusive historical fantasy.

NPR

"Williams’ debut is an absolute feast of imagination. Complex, brooding, impossible to put down."

Scott Reintgen

"Glorious . . . starring a heroine you instantly root for and admire.”

The New York Times

In her debut, Williams has crafted an addicting, original story that isn’t afraid to take risks. While the world is rooted in history and even boasts famous historical figures, the prominent Black and brown characters and exploration of queer love are a refreshing addition. With charming characters and surprising twists, this historical fantasy will delight readers of all ages.

Booklist