MARCH 2018 - AudioFile
Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden doesn’t shy away from the explicit sex scenes or assassinations that fill this audiobook. A prequel to the Unhewn Trilogy, it tells the tale of the final test that Pyrre Lakatur must complete to become a priestess for Ananshael—the god of death. One of two witnesses for the two-week test of assassinations is a self-proclaimed sex addict, Ela, whom Knowelden portrays as a sultry woman who enjoys life. Knowelden showcases Ela’s sense of humor, in contrast to the more serious Pyrre. The other witness she accurately portrays as bit of a curmudgeon. Knowelden varies her pace to showcase the three characters’ relationships, taking full advantage of the dialogue among them. J.E.M. 2018 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
02/27/2017
In this dramatic epic fantasy set in the same world as the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, Staveley (The Last Mortal Bond) explores the relationship between love and death. Acolyte Pyrre is determined to pass her trial and become a full-fledged priestess of Ananshael, the god of death. To do this, she has to kill seven people in 14 days, including “the one who made your mind and body sing with love.” Since Pyrre has never experienced love, she returns to the city of her birth to foment rebellion and reconnect with an old companion in hopes of finding a romantic spark. As she delves into the Shirvian delta and its myriad dangers alongside the handsome Ruc Lan Lac, investigating the mystery of long-forgotten gods and hidden peoples, Pyrre struggles to define love and understand what it means to serve her god. Lush, evocative descriptions sharpen the setting, which recalls Southeast Asia. Visceral action scenes and memorable characters bring this tale to life. Despite the outsize aspects of this adventure, it still feels remarkably intimate, right up to an epilogue that casts the book’s events in a whole new light. (Apr.)
From the Publisher
A lyrical, bloodsoaked, impossible quest that's sure to entertain.”—Kevin Hearne, New York Times bestselling author
“Staveley has quickly become one of my favorite fantasy authors, and his latest doesn't disappoint. Skullsworn is a brilliant new chapter in a fabulous series." —V. E. Schwab, New York Times bestselling author
“A warm, funny, character-focused novel which is also darkly charming, bloody, and lethal. It was very, very hard to put down, and had an emotional punch to match its high adrenaline moments.” —Sci Fi and Fantasy Reviews
“Entertaining and well-told.” —Booklist
“Lush, evocative descriptions sharpen the setting, which recalls Southeast Asia. Visceral action scenes and memorable characters bring this tale to life.” —Publishers Weekly
“A stunning prequel that actually lives up to the original trilogy's legacy […] Staveley has proven himself to be a master ofworld-building, character development, and sheer storytelling.” —Beauty in Ruins
“Pleasantly grim and emotionally complex.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Full of surprises […} more inventive and grisly than I could have imagined.” —Fantasy Faction, 9/10 stars
“A highly engrossing fantasy world […] amazing characters.?”—Fantasy Book Review
“Intricately plotted and masterfully told” –The Alliterates
“Perfectly bleak… brilliantly enjoyable” –Rapture in Books
“Do yourself a favor: read Skullsworn.You won’t regret it.” –GrimdarkMAGAZINE
“Highly recommended, especially for fans of female characters that like to kick ass and not follow the rules.” –The Speculative Herald
“Engrossing…” –SFRevu
“A great read with tons of action and humor… I loved it.” –The Blogin’ Hobgoblin
“Staggeringly wonderful” –Bookish Things
“Excellent characters… great world-building…fabulous fight scenes… an excellent book” –SciFi Fan Letter
“An outstanding novel on every level.” –TheBibliosanctum
“A must for fantasy fans” –Books of All Kinds
“A fantastic standalone book with a very satisfying conclusion – well thought out and written incredibly well.” —The Bookbag
“Intricately plotted and masterfully told.” —The Alliterates
Library Journal
04/15/2017
Pyrre Lakatur doesn't consider herself an assassin but rather a priestess devoted to Ananshael, God of Death. In order to realize her position among the Skullsworn, she must pass the Trial by killing seven people over 14 days. The killing is not the problem; it's love. To succeed, all Skullsworn must offer their partner to Ananshael. But what if you've never been in love? Still, Pyree proceeds with the Trial, until she is arrested by the mysterious Commander Ruc Lan Lac. Could he be her last chance at love? Keeping her religion a secret from Ruc is a must, for he holds no fondness for Skullsworn. In the end, will she be able to murder him? If she's unable to give him to her god, then death will come for them both in a most horrific way. VERDICT This origin story of this famous priestess from Staveley's "Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne" series will delight fans of those books; it will also introduce new readers to the complex world of the Annurian Empire. Gods and mortals clash once again in another satisfying epic fantasy.—KC
MARCH 2018 - AudioFile
Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden doesn’t shy away from the explicit sex scenes or assassinations that fill this audiobook. A prequel to the Unhewn Trilogy, it tells the tale of the final test that Pyrre Lakatur must complete to become a priestess for Ananshael—the god of death. One of two witnesses for the two-week test of assassinations is a self-proclaimed sex addict, Ela, whom Knowelden portrays as a sultry woman who enjoys life. Knowelden showcases Ela’s sense of humor, in contrast to the more serious Pyrre. The other witness she accurately portrays as bit of a curmudgeon. Knowelden varies her pace to showcase the three characters’ relationships, taking full advantage of the dialogue among them. J.E.M. 2018 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2017-02-21
The beautiful, enigmatic assassin Pyrre, a supporting character in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne (The Last Mortal Bond, 2016, etc.), takes center stage in this prequel to the series.Pyrre is an acolyte of Ananshael, the god of death. To become full priestess, she must kill seven specific types of people, one of whom must be someone "who made [her] mind and body sing with love." Trouble is, Pyrre's never been in love. Her quandary brings her to the conquered city of Dombâng, place of her birth and her desperate, miserable childhood. She hopes that her former lover Ruc Lan Lac, now the commander of the military police known as the Greenshirts, is someone she can truly love and then kill, in accordance with her Trial. But to catch his attention, she'll have to start a revolution. Falling in love isn't easy for Pyrre, but stirring up Dombâng's unrest is surprisingly so. Insurrection is always close to the surface of the barely pacified city, where hidden priests and secret worshippers seek to rouse the Three, the original, deadly gods of the delta who thrive upon blood and sacrifice and who may not be quite as mythical as many think. Pyrre, with her unusual attitude toward life and death, was always one of the most colorful and confusing characters in the original series, and it's both enjoyable and illuminating to observe the development of her personality as the bodies pile higher. Lacking the grand heft of the trilogy, this is a pleasantly grim and emotionally complex divertissement that will give pleasure to fans and tie up some loose ends—and can also be an accessible entree for new readers, who will undoubtedly go on to consume the rest of the series.
