A Sword of Gold and Ruin

"Finishing A Sword of Gold and Ruin left me stunned just like the first novel. I had to sit with it for a while, because this isn’t the kind of book you close and forget it just crawls under your skin. [...] The prose is something else. Raw, jagged, lyrical sometimes I had to stop and reread because the words were so sharp they made me catch my breath. Other times, it felt like poetry poured straight into my bloodstream. It wasn’t always comfortable reading, but it was honest, and that honesty made it beautiful. This book reminded me why I love Grim Dark fantasy not because of the battles or the monsters (though they’re there, and they’re terrifying), but because it can hold up a mirror to our own grief, resilience, and humanity. I finished it feeling moved, and strangely grateful. For me, A Sword of Gold and Ruin wasn’t just a story it was an experience. One I’ll be carrying around in my head and heart for a long time."

'It is a mind-blowing book. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. it's a story about the ragged, tearing wound you get when high myth gets stitched to the grind of mundane life. It's incredible.'

'Spark blends Celtic mythology and grimdark fantasy into an enthralling tale of female power. [Her] poetic prose gives the adventure a mythic feel that enhances its folkloric and folk horror elements. Balancing the violence of war with emotional depth and thematic explorations of motherhood and legacy, this gripping outing is a testament to Spark’s power as a storyteller.'

"A Sword of Gold and Ruin offers a raw, poetic, subtle, and hard-hitting examination of its characters, with an ethereal backdrop filled with the quiet joy of a folk tale with the quiet suffering of grimdark fantasy. A poignant tale, simultaneously loud and violent, and soft and graceful; a story of the joys and sorrows, light and darkness — a dark inspection of what it is to be a mother."

'A high fantasy fever dream... the author has once again – with her unique poetic literary fantasy – delivered an absolute experience.'

'In true Spark (The Court of Broken Knives, 2017) fashion, the story she paints is engrossingly human, strikingly vivid, and painfully grim.'

'Anna Smith Spark has done it yet again with this cracking read, and I hope there are many more stories to come in this multi-layered and captivating world.'

'An absolutely stunning masterclass in writing fantastic fiction.'

'A peculiar yet captivating piece of literature, crafted with eloquent and artistic language [and] a poignant exploration of a mother’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding her children. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to readers seeking a departure from conventional grimdark narratives.'

"It's fantasy with heart and real raw jagged edges. [...] Anna Smith Spark continues to dazzle and she has delivered such a triumph with this new creation. Run out and grab both books in this series, you won't be sorry!"

'Dark fantasy at its best.'

'A peculiar, ambitious novel [...] A Sword of Bronze and Ashes blends the register of myth with the bruisingly quotidian. Fascinatingly difficult to categorise.'

'A Sword of Bronze and Ashes is an epic masterpiece. Tolkienesque in its worldbuilding and literary in its voice, it is completely fresh.'

'The most refreshingly unique voice that I can recall reading for a long time.'

'A wonderful blend of fantasy and horror, Anna Smith Spark never seems to disappoint when it comes to her luscious prose and her wholly engaging storytelling. This one captivated me right from the very beginning and takes you on a dark fairy tale journey like no other. At times heartbreaking, at others hopeful. There's a disturbing underlying mystery that will blow your mind when all is said and done. Along the way Anna Smith Spark makes us sweat as she strengthens our connection to the main characters through deeply personal dialogue. This book will challenge many preconceptions with regard to what a hero should look and behave like, and that is a very very good thing. I hope to read many more stories set in this multi-layered and captivating world.'

"A thing of grim and dark beauty. [What] I love about Anna Smith Spark’s work [is] her ability to develop and explore such themes in a rich fantasy setting, where violence and magic may suddenly erupt at any moment. That and her prose, which can be richly descriptive and as delicate as a watercolour, but also bone-jarringly powerful"

"[A] defiantly unique voice, a voice and literary style that will stand the test of time. [...] Read this book when you have the time to appreciate it. Read it slowly and allow it to take hold of you. Remind yourself that books can also be art. And in this changing world of AI, cherish the beauty of human emotion, language and imagination."

'A Sword of Bronze and Ashes is a highly emotional story, using the epicness of grimdark to tell the story of a woman, a mother. Another excellent book by the Queen of Grimdark.'

"The mythic world this story is set in is harsh and unforgiving, but also filled with beauty. [...] I really liked the strong female characters that we see in Kanda and her daughters, Sal and Calian. Kanda herself has a duality about her. The attributes she has sway between fierce warrior, teacher, carer and mother, which could be said of most women. Readers will identify with her qualities."

"I say it every time I read one of Smith Spark’s books: this was an experience. I feel like I’ve read my way through a fever-dream. I am exhausted and fulfilled and happy and in need of a popcorn read after finishing A Sword of Gold and Ruin. This book will challenge you like few others, and I think it’d be a rare reader who wouldn’t enjoy the experience."

"A Sword of Gold and Ruin continues Anna Smith Spark’s haunting, Celtic-inspired saga with a story as brutal as it is beautiful. [...] a lyrical and unforgettable triumph that blends myth, horror, and the intimate struggles of family."

'A Sword of Bronze and Ashes is a novel written by a writer who is at the top of their game, who has their own unique voice, and take on the grimdark, high fantasy, and horror genres. I fully expect her to go from strength to strength and dominate these genres for the next few years. Recommended.'

'5 stars! Anna Smith Spark’s prose is remarkable. Her novels possess a distinctive, lyrical timbre, and that’s especially apparent in this first in a new series, which reads like the translation of some soaring medieval allegory. [A Sword of Bronze and Ashes] is eerie and violent, a woman-centred epic with few characters and locations, nonetheless filled with wonder and humanity.'

"Enchanting."

Reviews of Anna Smith Spark's novels.

‘Fierce, gripping fantasy, exquisitely written; bitter, funny and heart-rending by turns’ Adrian Tchaikovsky

‘A dynamic new voice’ Scott Lynch ‘Stunning’ Publishers Weekly

‘Compelling’ Fantasy Faction

‘Weaves a spell that will consume you’ Barnes and Noble

‘A must read’ Three Crows Magazine

‘A masterwork of dark fantasy’ Nightmarish Conjurings

‘An experience like no other series in fantasy’ Grimdark Magazine

‘Literary Game of Thrones’ Sunday Times

‘Howls like early Moorcock, converses like the best of Le Guin’ Daily Mail