Though there are many duels fought with swords in the world of Riverside, the clashes simply spoken out loud are what define Ellen Kushner’s cult-favorite novel. Swordspoint, a defining work in the fantasy of manners sub-genre, is centered around characters, their witty banter and the quieter dilemmas they face surrounding politics and class. The novel follows the journey of Richard St. Vier, a swordsman who makes his living by killing nobles in a world unlike our own. We’re aware that the land he traverses is fantastical, but those elements are played down in favor of a small-scale story centered on Richard’s tormented love for a scholar named Alec. There’s no kingdom to save or world to protect, but instead a romance to root for written in thrilling and precise terms. —Annabel Gutterman
Buy Now: Swordspoint on Bookshop | Amazon
- Employers Take Note: Young Workers Are Seeking Jobs with a Higher Purpose
- Signs Are Pointing to a Slowdown in the Housing Market—At Last
- Welcome to the Era of Unapologetic Bad Taste
- As the Virus Evolves, COVID-19 Reinfections Are Going to Keep Happening
- A New York Mosque Becomes a Refuge for Afghan Teens Who Fled Without Their Families
- High Gas Prices are Oil Companies' Fault says Ro Khanna, and Democrats Should Go After Them
- Two Million Cases: COVID-19 May Finally Force North Korea to Open Up
