The Privilege of the Sword

May 29, 2006
Kushner's winning high fantasy with its sophisticated swordplay marks a welcome return to the romantic Riverside world she introduced in Swordspoint
(1987). Coming-of-age gets complicated for winsome Lady Katherine Samantha Campion Talbert after she's shipped off to her uncle, the Mad Duke of Tremontaine (aka David Alexander "Alec" Tielman Campion), who reigns over a decadent world of erotic and political intrigue. At first Kate's frightened of becoming a swashbuckler, but after training with the duke's favorite lover, the dashing Richard St. Vier, and becoming friends with Marcus, Alec's devoted young assistant, she finds she's more than up for the task. Her skills are tested in her effort to avenge the rape of her best friend, Lady Artemesia Fitz-Levy, by one of her uncle's foes, Anthony Deverin (aka Lord Ferris, Crescent Chancellor of the Council of Lords). Kate's discovery that "Fear is enemy to the sword" and love is the key to triumph leads to surprising consequences.

Starred review from July 1, 2006

To save her family from impoverishment, Katherine Talbert accepts an invitation from her uncle, a.k.a. the Mad Duke Tremontaine, to join his household and be trained as his personal swordsman. During her educationz Dressed in men -s clothing and rigorously trained in the way of the sword, Katherine gradually discovers a new sense of freedom in a society where women -s futures are determined by their families rather than their own desires. Set in the same quasi-Regency world as Kushner -s Swordspoint and The Fall of the Kings (the latter cowritten with Delia Sherman), this novel introduces a fearless and resourceful heroine with a true heart and a keen-edged blade. Spiced with humor and spot-on period detail, this coming-of-age tale belongs in most fantasy and YA collections. Highly recommended. Lynch, Scott. The Lies of Locke Lamora Spectra: Bantam. Jul. 2006. c.512p. ISBN 0-553-80467-7 [ISBN 978-0-553-80467-7]. $23. FANTASY

Abandoned as an infant, the boy known as Locke Lamora grows up to become one of his city -s most famous (or infamous) con artists, yet his good nature has made him a folk hero. Leading his own band of men known as the Gentlemen Bastards, Locke falls into the center of a conspiracy that threatens those he holds dear. Lynch -s first novel, set in a richly detailed city peopled with a wide variety of fascinating characters, calls forth a highly motivated, determined, and sympathetic hero whose antics and knack for derring-do should appeal to fans of Steven Brust -s Vlad Taltos novels. A good choice for most fantasy collections.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2006
The most recent Riverside story follows " Swordspoint "(2003) in chronology and features many of its characters. Alec, Duke Tremontaine, aka the Mad Duke of Riverside, has sent for his impoverished young niece, Katherine. She and her family hope he'll make a good marriage for her, but the Mad Duke has decided to train her as a sword fighter. She is furious, and besides a swordmaster to train her, her uncle also springs what becomes her fall into society, without warning or training, on her. She learns the sword perforce out of self-defense and also, bit by bit, the city, the nobility, politics, " and" her uncle. When Katherine is trained and entered into society with her weapon, she wades hip-deep into plots against her uncle and becomes the champion of a lady in distress, too. Plot and style here" "are in the swashbuckling tradition of Dumas, but the characters are very real beneath their facades, people who bleed when they are cut, even when manners require that they make nothing of it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)