Publishers Weekly
★ 06/10/2024
Enright’s riveting and remarkably assured dark fantasy debut follows a young woman on a quest for revenge that leads her to the heart of the treacherous court of the vampire king. When Shan LeClaire, a powerful Blood Worker, assassinates her disgraced noble father and assumes control of the family, it’s just the first step in her complex plan of vengeance against the Eternal King. Along the way, her machinations ensnare Samuel Hutchinson, a man with an impossibly rare gift; reignite her childhood romance with the Royal Bloodworker; and send the trio on the hunts for the serial killer terrorizing the city. Enright’s richly atmospheric prose immerses readers in a meticulously crafted world, where familiar vampire tropes are skillfully subverted. The novel’s greatest strength lies in its morally ambiguous, multifaceted characters, particularly Shan, the cunning and ruthless antiheroine whose relentless machinations drive the story forward. The high-stakes romance subplot, featuring a polyamorous relationship and trans representation, adds depth and tension to the narrative. Calling to mind the works of both Anne Rice and V.E. Schwab, this tale of magic, murder, and ambition will captivate fans of dark, political fantasy. Agent: Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"[A] riveting and remarkably assured dark fantasy debut. Enright’s richly atmospheric prose immerses readers in a meticulously crafted world, where familiar vampire tropes are skillfully subverted. The high-stakes romance subplot, featuring a polyamorous relationship and trans representation, adds depth and tension to the narrative. Calling to mind the works of both Anne Rice and V.E. Schwab, this tale of magic, murder, and ambition will captivate fans of dark, political fantasy." —Publishers Weekly (Starred)
"Mistress of Lies held me captive from the very first page. What a story—dark and gripping, raw and beautifully imagined. With their stunning prose, compelling morally gray characters, inventive magic system, and knack for piercingly heartfelt moments amidst all the horror and intrigue, K.M. Enright is definitely one to watch."—Thea Guanzon, USA Today, New York Times, and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Hurricane Wars
"Mistress of Lies is a dark, twisting fantasy that grabs you by the throat with claws and refuses to let you go– a blood-stained, heart wrenching romance balanced on the knife’s edge of revolution. Luxurious and beautifully cruel."—Andrew Joseph White, NYT bestselling author of Hell Followed With Us
"Politics, family, and desire weave a tangled web across a decadent, blood-soaked city in this stunning debut. Dark, dangerous, and entrancing!”—Melissa Caruso, author of The Obsidian Tower
“Enright weaves a stunning tale ripe with political scheming, fascinating magic, and deliciously complicated characters you can’t help but root for. An excellent choice for those looking to sink into a decadent story that won’t let them go.”—Sara Hashem, author of The Jasad Heir
"Captivating and deadly, Mistress of Lies enthralls from the very first page. Twisted through with the darkest of secrets. . . a powerful exploration of race, class and injustice."—Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins On Their Bones
"A dark, delicate, beauty of a novel, with all the edges of sharpened steel."—K.S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro
“An exquisitely crafted, bloodthirsty decadence of gothic romance and cunning political intrigue. Enright weaves a fantasy that is utterly unputdownable."—Ashley Shuttleworth, author of The Hollow Star Saga
"Sensual and sinister, Mistress of Lies had me by the throat. This class conscious political fantasy speaks to the diasporic longing for recognition and connection, and the constant balancing of identity and integration in a very special way."—Gabriella Buba, author of Saints of Storm and Shadow
"Glittering darkly with facets of magic, romance, and deep lore, K. M. Enright's Mistress of Lies is a seductive and blood-soaked jewel of a debut."—Lyra Selene, author of A Feather So Black
"Mistress of Lies is dark, sexy, and twisty, the plot as winding and eerie as the streets of Aeravin itself. With compelling characters and a fresh take on blood magic, this book will seize you by the throat and hold your attention to the very end."—Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
"Lush and unrelenting, this complex political intrigue is an ode to those who will seize destiny in their own, bloodied hands."—Lyndall Clipstone, author of Unholy Terrors
"An exquisitely crafted, bloodthirsty decadence of gothic romance and cunning political intrigue. Enright weaves a fantasy that is utterly unputdownable."—Ashley Shuttleworth, author of A Dark and Hollow Star
"Mistress of Lies is a honey trap of romance and royaltycore that leaves no corroded stone unturned when delving into the corruption at the heart of monarchy."—Ladz, author of The Fealty of Monsters
"A cunning and clawed fantasy romance. Whether manoeuvring cutthroat society parties or scorching bedroom alliances, Enright's characters crackle with chemistry, pitting loyalty against clashing ideals in a twisting murder mystery that will leave you breathless to the very end."—S. A. MacLean, author of The Phoenix Keeper
"A dark fantasy the way it should be done: intricately built, steeped in political intrigue, featuring messy families, morally grey protagonists, and visceral blood magic. I adored the world Enright has created, deep and complex, with an atmosphere so thick, you can slice it with a knife."—Genoveva Dimova, author of Foul Days
