Fallen Blade - Softcover

Jon Courtenay Grimwood studied at Kingston College and has worked as a freelance writer for magazines and newspapers including the GUARDIAN. He has been shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award twice and the BSFA Award for Best Novel seven times, winning twice. He lives in Winchester with his wife, novelist and editor of RED magazine, Sam Baker.

A truly captivating book . . . full of complex people and ever-changing allegiances. The author manages to weave an accomplished tale of unfulfilled desires, unrequited love and uncertain humanity. The climax is quick moving and vivid -- this is a real page-turner * ROMANTIC TIMES * Sharp as a stiletto, dark and dazzling as a masquerade. Grimwood's Venice is totally compelling * Mike Carey * A well-written novel that features a fully realized setting, engaging characters, and a gripping story rife with complex politics and heartbreaking drama . . . * FANTASY BOOK CRITIC * Grimwood's well seasoned skills with storytelling and dialogue makes this opening instalment of the series both delightfully colourful and compellingly readable * BOOKLIST * Grimwood adroitly combines a satisfying complexity with visceral detail and bouts of astounding violence, knit together by suitably Machiavellian intrigue. Pounce on this one * KIRKUS (STARRED REVIEW) * Reinventing the Vampire myth. Never let it be said that Jon Courtenay Grimwood lacks for ambition * SFX * Grimwood's prose sparkles with the flash of fangs and the slash of daggers in the night . . . It is beautifully written, the characters are well-drawn, the plot twisty and layered . . . a tantalizing tale that culminated in some truly fantastic revelations and, above all else, a deeply haunting, deeply lovely vision of Venice * ROBWILLREVIEW.COM * A novel you can gorge yourself on; a fast-paced, swashbuckling adventure of the old school, full of fire and brimstone thrills and rich flavours * SALON FUTURA * A hugely enjoyable, gritty, violent and dark fantasy * BOOKCHICKCITY * Known for his near-future SF, such as the suberb ARABESK trilogy, Grimwood's new novel still features his trademark alternate timelines. His attention to detail and skillful weaving of fact with fiction make this a fine beginning to his new series * BOOKS QUARTERLY * Brilliant, haunting, dark, gothic historical fantasy... This is the best vampire novel written since The Vampire Lestat, while simultaneously being very different and original * CIVILIAN READER * A twisted, Machiavellian, complicated and ornate book about survival and the terrible lengths people will go to for power * PORNOKITSCH * The writing is elegant, the dialogue is sharp, the characters economically but well drawn, the action unrelenting . . . Hits all the right notes * SCIFI NOW * This is a book full of mysteries that remain unsolved and outcomes that remain cloudy. Grimwood creates a fascinating world and involving characters - most importantly, he makes us want to read the next two volumes of the trilogy * INDEPENDENT * This is dark majestic stuff . . . * FINANCIAL TIMES * The political intrigue is handled with dexterity, springing surprises and plot twists fuelled by the Machiavellian cast. Grimwood delivers a page-turning read and offers a neat twist on the Vampire theme * GUARDIAN * Gritty, grimy, decadent and compelling * SUNDAY TIMES *