A Woman of the Sword

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By Anna Smith Spark

Publisher Description

A Woman of the Sword is an epic fantasy seen through the eyes of an ordinary woman. Lidae is a daughter, a wife, a mother - and a great warrior born to fight. Her sword is hungry for killing, her right hand is red with blood.

War is very much a woman's business. But war is not kind to women. And war is not kind to mothers and their sons.

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22 Reviews

3.5

Milk

Created about 2 months ago

Diverse representation Strong relationships Unengaging Unforgettable protagonist Unlikable

Andrew Turner

Created 3 months ago

“Spark does a “damned good job” of showing what happens to the families raised by war. She does an excellent job of showcasing what happens to the women and children. This book was heart breaking at times but was worth finishing in the end.”

Believable Morally ambiguous Multilayered Fast-paced Gripping/exciting Nonlinear narrative Gritty Harsh Historical Beautifully-written

Mitchell

Created 3 months ago

“That shit sad”

Jay

Created 4 months ago

“Anna Smith Spark’s 'A Woman of the Sword' is an extraordinary novel, one that carves deep into the soul of its readers, especially those who are parents. It is a harrowing tale of love, loss, and the lengths we will go to protect those we cherish. Anna Smith Spark, the Queen of Grimdark, has delivered a story that is not only a masterclass in character development but also a piece of literature destined to haunt its readers long after the final page. The story follows Lidae, a warrior and mother whose life is a delicate balance of violence and tenderness. Lidae’s growth throughout the novel is staggering, as she transitions from a soldier hardened by war to a woman grappling with the weight of motherhood. The duality of her nature is at the heart of the novel: she is both a bringer of death and a giver of life, and the choices she makes are as heart-pounding as they are heartbreaking. Anna Smith Spark’s prose, as always, is unparalleled, weaving poetry into brutality with breathtaking skill. One passage encapsulates Lidae's inner turmoil beautifully: "Her blade gleamed crimson in the dying sun, a reflection of the blood she could not wash from her soul. She wiped her hands clean, but her children’s faces still glistened with her tears, her touch too rough for their fragile skin. How could she ever explain to them the cost of her survival, when her survival had always been paid in flesh?" This moment, heavy with guilt and love, showcases Spark’s ability to capture the raw humanity of her characters. Orfea’s journey is not one of easy redemption but of confronting the harsh realities of her choices and finding strength in the love she bears for her children. The novel’s emotional core is unrelenting. Orfea’s moments with her children are both tender and devastating, a constant reminder of the stakes she faces. As a parent, the choices Orfea is forced to make are particularly resonant. Spark captures the universal fear of failure and the desperate hope that we can protect our children from the darkness of the world. In one particularly heart-wrenching scene, Spark writes: *"She wanted to sing them to sleep, to promise them safety with every note. But the song caught in her throat, broken by the knowledge that safety was a lie she could no longer afford to tell. They would grow strong because they had to, and the world would see them as she did: flames burning against the night."* For those of us who are parents, this passage is almost unbearable in its honesty. It is a reminder of the impossible tightrope we walk, trying to shield our children while preparing them for a world that may not be kind. The beauty of Spark’s work lies not only in her prose but in the depth of her characters and the truths she reveals about the human condition. Orfea’s journey forces readers to confront their own beliefs about sacrifice, love, and resilience. By the end of the novel, you are not the same person you were when you began. In perhaps the novel’s most haunting moment, Spark writes: *"The battlefield stretched before her, a graveyard of choices made and lives taken. Yet in the distance, she saw them—her children, standing together, their small hands clasped tight. The light touched their faces, and for a moment, she believed it was enough."* This passage, a culmination of Orfea’s journey, is both devastating and hopeful. It is a testament to Spark’s ability to find beauty in the darkest moments, leaving readers with a sense of profound awe and heartbreak. As a parent, *A Woman of the Sword* will break you. As a reader, it will leave you changed. Spark’s ability to craft a story that is both deeply personal and universally resonant is a testament to her unparalleled talent. This is not just a book; it is literature, a work of art that deserves to be experienced by generations to come. Having read all of Anna Smith Spark’s works, I feel as though I am savoring a meal prepared by a master chef, each book a new creation that exceeds all expectations. Unlike my usual habit of waiting for a series to be complete, I will always forge ahead with her works, knowing they will deliver something extraordinary. * A Woman of the Sword* is one of the rare novels I hope my children will one day read, to experience the haunting beauty of Spark’s prose and the profound truths her stories reveal. This is a book that reminds us, even in a world full of stories, just how *good* a story can be.”

Eryn Reads Everything

Created 6 months ago

Believable Multilayered Dark Dark Thought-provoking Original

About Anna Smith Spark

Anna Smith Spark is the author of the critically acclaimed, Gemmell and British Fantasy Awards shortlisted Empires of Dust grimdark epic fantasy series (HarperVoyager) The Court of Broken Knives, The Tower of Living and Dying and The House of Sacrifice, as well as short stories set in and around the series' world. Her books have been described as 'a masterwork' by Nightmarish Conjurings, 'an experience like no other series in fantasy' by Grimdark Magazine, 'literary Game of Thrones' by the Sunday Times, and 'howls like early Moorcock, converses like the best of Le Guin' by the Daily Mail.