Book Reviews by Emil Luft

The books are: Swordspoint, The Privilege of the Sword and The Fall of the Kings. The first two are written by Ellen Kushner and the last one is by Ellen and Della Sherman.

Swordspoint is a tale of intrigue and danger, of romance and power, of nobles, students  and pickpockets in a city that settles disputes by the sword. The romance and some love scenes are between males, so it may not be for everyone. I would give it an R rating. I believe it won some book awards
The Privilege of the Sword (what a great title!) was the first book I read and I re-read it again after I read Swordspoint.  It is a witty and wonderful book with great characters. It introduces Katherine, a well-bred country girl versed in the rules of conventional society into Riverside where the aristocratic and ambitious battle for power in the city's ball rooms, brothels and boudoirs. Katherine's uncle Alec Campion, a.k.a. the Mad Duke Tremontaine, to whom rules do not apply, decides it would be more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to marriage and her world changes forever. Blade in hand it is up to Katherine to navigate a maze of secrets and scoundrels and to gain the self-discovery that comes to those who master The Privilege of the Sword. 

 

The Fall of the Kings is the follow-up.  It is about Theron Campion the heir to an ancient house. It is set in the same world of intrigue against a rich tapestry of artists, scholars, students, strumpets and spies. 

Normally there is no PG-14 or R rating on books.  I think these 3 books should be rated R, but maybe I am too conservative.

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