A Crown for Cold Silver

"This is my favorite kind of fantasy -- alternatively irreverent and brutal, with a cast of wonderfully scarred and nasty people. Any fans of Steven Erikson, Mark Lawrence, or Joe Abercrombie will love A Crown for Cold Silver; I've just finished it, and I'm already eager for more."

"Alex Marshall builds a sprawling world that grows larger and deeper with every page. Instantly believable. Zosia and her Five Villains are as fun as they are twisted."

"An epic fantasy that will surprise you. When was the last time you read one of those? Marshall deftly sets up and subverts expectations at every turn. If you think you know what's coming, think again."

"Brimming with imagination and invention... Fabulous!"

"Exceptional writing, middle-aged warrior heroine, and organically infused gender nonconformity make this fantasy epic a first-rate trailblazer... splendid storytelling, wry humor, and unresolved intrigue."

"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... A pure joy to read."

"This sweeping adventure is a first from Marshall 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."

"Full of bloody battles, intimidating monsters and incredible feats, fans of thoughtful storytelling, tough-as-nails heroines and absorbing fantasy will love this novel."

"Marshall's rich cast of characters .... are driven by passion, duty and humanizing, terrifying flaws... A Crown for Cold Silver drags epic fantasy through the mud - but it does so with wit, wonder and wisdom."

"Looking forward to see[ing] more of this complicated and dark world."

"A complex, mold-breaking fantasy protagonist."

"This lusty debut will have you gasping in one breath and laughing in the next with its cast of multicultural characters, gender-bending soldiers, same-sex coupled kings and warrior women of all ages who throw themselves into the fray. By the latter half of the novel, you realize Marshall is playing a long, glorious game."