A Crown for Cold Silver

Starred review from February 2, 2015
The sprawling, warring cast and magical-medieval setting of Marshall’s series launch may look familiar at first, but exceptional writing, a middle-aged warrior heroine, and organically infused gender nonconformity make this fantasy epic a first-rate trailblazer. From the first, when former rebel leader and queen Cobalt Zosia all but dismantles the young officer sent to destroy her life, Zosia’s assurance and intelligence establish a commanding presence. Believing her successor responsible for the massacre of Zosia’s husband and village, she abandons her 20-year self-imposed exile and sets out with aching joints, palpable grief, and hearty libido to revive her rebel army. Marshall blends character, background, history, and action to create a seamless fantasy realm of weary mercenaries, randy adrenaline-fueled nobles, conflicted religious fanatics, old grudges, new betrayals, and one endearing demon dog. With a tactician’s skill, Marshall introduces elements of plot and character that are enlarged and enveloped in the central story line, but careful structuring never precludes chaotic action or emotion, nor does it undermine any of the third-act surprises. The hidden identity of the highly skilled, pseudonymous author adds an interesting wrinkle, and the splendid storytelling, wry humor, and unresolved intrigue will leave readers hungry for the sequels.

March 1, 2015
What begins as a typical revenge story veers into an epic tale of invasion, civil war, and divine incursion in the apparent first of a series by a pseudonymous author.More than 20 years ago, Gen. Cobalt Zosia, her Five Villains, and her peasant army assassinated King Kaldruut of the Crimson Empire and placed Zosia on the throne. When the nobles and the merchants actively sabotaged her efforts to create a more equitable society, she faked her death, married a courtesan, and lived a happy, peaceful life in the rural village of Kypck...until a brash, inexperienced colonel ordered his regiment to slaughter everyone in Kypck except for her. Zosia immediately embarks upon a campaign against the one she's sure is responsible-the current ruler, Queen Indsorith. But as the Crimson Empire faces conflict between the queen and the power-hungry Church of the Burnished Chain, unrest with a rival empire, and a new outlaw army headed by a rebellious princess posing as Zosia, can the aging bandit really be sure as to the identity of her foe? The famous warrior violently forced out of retirement and thrust into renewed conflict has been done many times and in many genres, and for a good portion of the book, there seems to be little to distinguish this from its predecessors. But it gradually becomes clear that Marshall is playing a wider and more interesting game. Ultimately, Zosia isn't truly the protagonist (or at least, not the only one) nor the primary catalyst for events, which lends the story greater potential, both here and in future volumes. A promising start.

Starred review from March 15, 2015

Having left her crown behind and allowed the world to believe her dead, Zosia is furious when she understands that the queen of the Crimson Empire sent a regiment to kill everyone in her village, including her husband. Determined to get revenge, she sets out to gather old allies to destroy the queen. All the while, a young princess has taken up Zosia's banner (assuming the dead queen would have no need of it) and built an army. The two groups are on a collision course, and Zosia's old allies who now ride with the princess will be pretty surprised to find her still very much alive. VERDICT This sweeping adventure is a first from Marshall (apparently a pseudonym of an acclaimed author) and delivers a colorful cast. It sparkles with details that make a fantasy world come alive: echoes of cultures jumbled together in new ways, drug addicts who allow poisonous insects to sting them for a high, and unusual gender roles and depictions.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 1, 2015
This brawny revenge fantasy feels like a Tarantino movie: a hugely entertaining mix of adventure and comedy, punctuated by moments of darkness, with clever dialogue and explosive set pieces. The story is classic in its structure: a retired warrior watches her village and its people destroyed, vows revenge, rounds up the old gang for one last mission. The (pseudonymous) author has created a wonderfully rich world, detailed enough to make us feel as though we're visiting a real place. The basic story will be familiar to readers who know their revenge tales, but Marshall orchestrates numerous variations on the theme, and the characters are so splendidly designed that the book is a pure joy to read. The protagonist, retired warrior Cobalt Zosia, is a larger-than-life figureher past exploits have made her famous across the landand her former colleagues, the appropriately named Five Villains, are a lively bunch. If Marshall had played the story straight, it might have come off sounding like just another revenge saga, but by adopting a lighter tone and by orchestrating numerous small variations on the theme, Marshall has crafted a story that feels fresh and exciting. The book's ending allows plenty of room for a sequel, too, and it's hard to imagine that readers won't be craving one as soon as possible.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)