Anji Kills a King - (Rising Tide) by Evan Leikam (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An unlikely assassin struggles to escape a legendary bounty hunter in this breakneck fantasy debut that will grab you by the throat--perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, and Christopher Buehlman.

She killed for a cause. Will she die for it too?

Anji works as a castle servant, cleaning laundry for a king she hates. So when a rare opportunity presents itself, she seizes the chance to cut his throat. Then she runs for her life. In her wake, the kingdom is thrown into disarray, while a bounty bigger than anyone could imagine lands on her head.

On her heels are the fabled mercenaries of the Menagerie, whose animal-shaped masks are magical relics rumored to give them superhuman powers. It's the Hawk who finds Anji first: a surly, aging swordswoman who has her own reasons for keeping Anji alive and out of the hands of her fellow bounty hunters, if only long enough to collect the reward herself.

With the rest of the Menagerie on their trail, so begins an alliance as tenuous as it is temporary--and a race against death that will decide Anji's fate, and may change the course of a kingdom.

Review Quotes

"Anji Kills a King is a masterful debut, with breakneck pacing and a main character whose relentless tenacity makes her an absolute joy to read. The ending is perfect, and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here."--Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

"A stunning debut, fast-paced and as grim as grimdark gets, relentless till the end."--Glen Cook, author of The Black Company

"Leikam catapults onto the scene with this unforgettable debut that adds a refreshing new note to the beloved choir of dark fantasy. Fans of breakneck pacing, quippy characters, and grimdark with heart should run, not walk, to the bookstore for this one."--M.J. Kuhn, author of Among Thieves and Thick as Thieves

"A spellbinding, cleverly layered tale of resilience and unshakable spirit. A true grimdark fantasy adventure!"--Andy Peloquin, author of Darkblade

"This debut is full of violent banter that will delight fans of Christopher Buehlman's The Blacktongue Thief; it also has the messy, complicated politics that Joe Abercrombie readers crave.... Leikam's grim, yet often charming debut won't let readers escape its riveting pages."--Library Journal (starred review)

"[A] rousing epic fantasy debut.... The details of Leikam's fully imagined realm, and the meaty backstories of his two main characters, will captivate readers."--Publishers Weekly

"Anji Kills a King moves at breakneck speed, sweeping readers along for a ride they won't want to disembark from, with a conclusion hinting at an action-packed sequel"--Booklist

About the Author

Evan Leikam grew up among the forests of central Oregon reading fantasy and science fiction from a young age. While touring the United States and Europe with an independent rock band, he began tinkering with his own stories to pass time in vans and music venues. Apart from writing he enjoys cooking, producing music, riding his bike, and From Software games. He is the host of the Book Reviews Kill podcast, and his social media pages have turned thousands on to new books. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.