WINNER OF THE 2015-2016 SPFBO, HOSTED BY MARK LAWRENCE

Amra Thetys lives by two simple rules—take care of business, and never let it get personal. Thieves don't last long in Lucernis otherwise. But when a fellow rogue and good friend is butchered on the street in a deal gone wrong, she turns her back on burglary and goes after something more precious than treasure: Revenge.

Revenge, however, might be hard to come by. A nightmare assortment of enemies, including an immortal assassin and a mad sorcerer, believe Amra is in possession of The Blade That Whispers Hate—the legendary, powerful artifact her friend was murdered for—and they'll do anything to take it from her. Trouble is, Amra hasn't got the least clue where the Blade might be.

She needs to find the Blade, and soon, or she'll be joining her colleague in a cold grave instead of avenging his death. Time is running out for the small, scarred thief.

"McClung has an impressive ability to write compelling characters and a fast paced and action packed plot that never seems to let up." -Speculative Book Review

"There are gods and demons and magic and better yet, it all feels refreshingly original." -Elitist Book Reviews

"Michael McClung, who has also written the Sword Monk Saga and the Comes the Conquerer series, writes excellent dialogue that keeps the characters engaging and the story moving forward." -Fantasy-Faction