The Court of Broken Knives

by Anna Smith Spark
The Court of Broken Knives cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Fantasy
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99
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Technical
  • ID: 9392
  • Added: 2025-12-24
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780316511445
  • Published: 2017-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

The Yellow Empire, once the richest and most powerful, is now ruled by an imposturous Emperor whose decadence has blinded its inhabitants to their impending doom. Orhan, haunted by prophetic dreams, hires a company of soldiers to cross the desert and reach the capital city with one mission: kill the Emperor and all those who remain. Among them is Marith, a strange and ambitious young man with a dark past and an even darker secret in his blood. As they journey through the empire, they uncover the true extent of its vulnerability and the desperate measures needed to save it. The story is a gripping tale of epic battles, gritty heroes, and blood-soaked revenge, set against the backdrop of a crumbling empire.

Reviews
Before We Go Blog · 2022-09-05
intense 4.00

The book is an intense and uncompromising grimdark fantasy. It is described as one of the darkest books the reviewer has ever read. The language is rich and the characters are well-crafted, but the story can be overwhelming.

This novel is a deep dive into grimdark fantasy, known for its unflinching portrayal of a brutal world. The reviewer highlights the book's uncompromising tone, which makes it one of the darkest they've encountered. The language is described as staggeringly beautiful, and the characters are finely crafted, adding depth to the narrative. However, the intensity of the story can be overwhelming, making it a challenging but rewarding read. The reviewer appreciates the rich world-building and the complex characters, but also acknowledges that the darkness of the story might not be for everyone.

Quick quotes

    This book is unabashedly, uncompromisingly pure grimdark fantasy.

    It might actually be THE DARKEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ.

    The language can be staggeringly beautiful, and its characters are finely crafted.

Fantasy Hive · 2021-05-01
dark 4.20

The book aims for a literary tone and succeeds with its beautiful language and finely crafted characters. It is one of the darker series out there, but the reviewer appreciates its depth and complexity.

This novel stands out for its literary tone and beautifully crafted language. The reviewer highlights the book's dark and complex narrative, which is one of the darker series in the genre. The finely crafted characters and the rich, detailed world add depth to the story. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to evoke strong emotions and its unflinching portrayal of a brutal world. The language is described as staggeringly beautiful, and the characters are well-developed, making it a compelling read. The reviewer finds the book to be a standout in the grimdark fantasy genre, with its depth and complexity.

Quick quotes

    One of the darker series out there, it aims for a more literary tone.

    Its language can be staggeringly beautiful, and its characters are finely crafted.

    It is a dark and complex narrative that evokes strong emotions.

Fantasy Book Review · 2017-01-01
excellent 4.50

The book is an excellent grimdark fantasy that is intense and overwhelming in the best way. The reviewer found it super intense to read and left feeling a bit overwhelmed, but in a positive sense.

This grimdark fantasy novel is praised for its intensity and depth. The reviewer found the book to be super intense, which left them feeling a bit overwhelmed, but in a good way. The richly detailed world and the brutal, yet beautifully crafted characters, make for a compelling read. The reviewer appreciates the complexity and the sheer power of the narrative, which makes it a standout in the genre. The book's ability to evoke strong emotions and its unflinching portrayal of a dark world are highlighted as its strongest points.

Quick quotes

    The Court of Broken Knives is an excellent grimdark fantasy book which I found super intense to read.

    Left me feeling a bit overwhelmed – in the best way.

    The world is rich and gorgeous and brutal.

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