The Stone Knife

A fantasy epic of freedom and empire, gods and monsters, love, loyalty, honour, and betrayal, from the acclaimed author of GODBLIND.

For generations, the forests of Ixachipan have echoed with the clash of weapons, as nation after nation has fallen to the Empire of Songs – and to the unending, magical music that binds its people together. Now, only two free tribes remain.

The Empire is not their only enemy. Monstrous, scaled predators lurk in rivers and streams, with a deadly music of their own.

As battle looms, fighters on both sides must decide how far they will go for their beliefs and for the ones they love – a veteran general seeks peace through war, a warrior and a shaman set out to understand their enemies, and an ambitious noble tries to bend ancient magic to her will.

Reviews

‘THE STONE KNIFE has everything you’d hope for in a Stephens novel: sharp action, cracking pace, and a brutal disregard for our poor feelings. A compelling story of clashing cultures, of duty and ambition and change, that will leave you desperate for the next instalment’
Sam Hawke, author of CITY OF LIES

‘A brilliant, grim, and joyous opening to a bloody new trilogy’
Stewart Hotston, author of TANGLE’S GAME

‘An epic tale about the bloody repercussions of expansionism. THE STONE KNIFE explores the cruelty of empire through the eyes of characters from vastly different backgrounds, weaving a tapestry of conflict, injustice, and determination’
E.J. Beaton, author of THE COUNCILLOR

PRAISE FOR THE GODBLIND TRILOGY:

‘A great achievement…no one does swordfights quite like Anna Stephens. We salute her with a bloody gauntlet’
Daily Mail

‘GODBLIND is a triumph of its genre’
Starburst

‘Writes her name in blood on the roster of masters of grimdark alongside the likes of Mark Lawrence and Joe Abercrombie’
B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

‘Builds to an epic crescendo…deeply emotional and unexpectedly hopeful’
Publishers Weekly

About the author

Anna Stephens is the author of the Godblind trilogy (Godblind, Darksoul, Bloodchild) and the Songs of the Drowned trilogy, which begins with The Stone Knife. All are available worldwide.

Anna also writes for Black Library in their Age of Sigmar and Warhammer Horror worlds, and for Marvel Comics through their tie-in publisher Aconyte Books.

As a black belt in Shotokan Karate and a practitioner of 14th century Italian longsword, Anna is no stranger to the feeling of being hit in the face, which is more help than you would expect when writing fight scenes.

You can follow Anna on Twitter @AnnaSmithWrites or https://anna-stephens.com