"A deliciously wry and dark love letter to high fantasy."
―Anna Smith Spark

The King-Killing Queen

In this first book of a new trilogy author Anna Smith Spark calls “a dark love letter to high fantasy,” a woman discovers her unknown past carries with it a terrible future.

When Alafair Goode lay wounded during his quest to destroy Mordreadth the Great Darkness, a witch magicked and saved the future High King’s life to fulfill his destiny. Thereafter, all born to his line also cannot die, to be only undone by natural death.

Decades later, Sylvie Raventress is the devoted apprentice to Master Historian Kell, stepbrother to the High King. It is a life of scholarly pursuit and privilege where one day she will take her instructor’s place and write her own histories.

But beside Alafair’s deathbed, Sylvie and his scions learn a surprising truth—she is no orphan but is his named heir. Worse, when he dies, the witch’s curse is no more, leaving all of them suddenly mortal and vulnerable.

With her siblings loathing Sylvie’s selection and vying for her throne, she must rely on a Fae guide, a disgraced former First Knight, and a cantankerous light-weaver to restore the fracturing kingdom and become High Queen. And yet the thing none of them know is destiny has its own part to play too.

For the witch saved Alafair Goode for her own reasons…

KICKSTARTER: APRIL 11th, 2023

PUBLISHING: NOVEMBER 7, 2023

A new Skybound graphic novel adapted from a prequel short story!

The Briar-Sword Monk

Adapted from the short story prequel set before the events of Shawn Speakman’s forthcoming new Annwn Cycle novel, The King-Killing Queen, comes a full-color graphic novel filled with magic, darkness, and the power of the human spirit.

Emmer leads a simple life as a monk, feeding the poor, caring for the ill, and repairing old manuscripts. It is a world filled with books, contemplation, and peace.

But when the Fae emerge from their eastern forests to wage war on Man without provocation, Emmer becomes the key that can unlock the mystery before darkness destroys all they know. To help discover the truth and save the world of Man, Emmer is joined by a brash young king wielding a fabled blade from the sky and two women possessing the power of light over shadow. Together, they will seek answers at the horizon’s edge as well as deep within the human heart.

But all is not what it seems.

For Emmer comes to realize the Erlking of the Fae and his host cannot be stopped by any means that Man possesses…

The Briar-Sword Monk is a Kickstarter exclusive graphic novel. Ensure you get your copy by supporting the Kickstarter on April 11th.

A short biography of

Shawn Speakman

Author. Publisher. Webmaster. Purveyor of Lies.

Shawn Speakman is the award-winning editor of Unfettered and the author of The Dark Thorn, an urban fantasy novel Terry Brooks called “a fine tale by a talented writer.” The Undone Life of Jak Dreadth is a prequel novella to his new novel, The Tempered Steel of Antiquity Grey. An avid fan of SF&F, he owns The Signed Page and Grim Oak Press. He currently lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and two sons. Read a longer bio HERE!

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Shawn has no problem defacing books with additional ink. If you wish to buy a signed and/or personalized copy of any of Shawn’s books, visit The Signed Page.

Events & Appearances

14 NOV

2023

University Book Store

Seattle, WA
With: Terry Brooks, Christopher Paolini, and Robin Hobb

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