Dagger and Coin - by Kathy MacMillan (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"Rich in politics, intrigue, and betrayal, Dagger and Coin is a complex feminist fantasy featuring a tough and prickly ex-princess that I couldn't help but adore."--Heidi Heilig, author of The Girl from Everywhere

The sequel to Sword and Verse follows a familiar face--Soraya--as she attempts to rebuild a nation after the downfall of the monarchy. Readers who love Rae Carson and Kristen Cashore won't be able to put this fantasy down.

Soraya Gamo was meant to be queen of Qilara, until an Arnath slave rebellion upended the social order and destroyed the capital city. Now, improbably, she sits on the new ruling council beside Mati, Raisa, and Jonis from Book 1, and must work with her former enemies.

She finally holds the political power she always wanted--but over a nation in ruins. As she helps to rebuild Qilara, she can, at last, use what everyone once told her to hide: her brain.

But not everyone is ready to accept that the Arnathim are no longer enslaved to the Qilarites. So when a slave ship arrives in the city, full of Arnathim captured before Qilara fell, the civil unrest that has been bubbling since the rebellion erupts.

Forced to confront her own prejudices, Soraya struggles to gain the trust of the Arnath people she once disregarded and establish peace in what has become chaos. With the threat of attacks high, Gelti, a former guard captain, trains Soraya in self-defense. As the two grow close, tension within the city ramps up, with danger, betrayal, and deception meeting Soraya everywhere she turns.

Friends become foes, adversaries become companions, and the clashing of classes threatens to unravel all the good Soraya has been trying to do. Can Soraya, raised to be a submissive Qilarite lady, learn to be a true leader? Or will the sins of her past forever haunt the footsteps of her future?

• A Reluctant Leader: Soraya was meant to be queen, but now this ex-princess must learn to rule a council of her former enemies to save a nation from itself.
• A City in Turmoil: Just as they begin to rebuild, the arrival of a slave ship ignites the city's simmering tensions, pitting neighbor against neighbor.
• Secrets and Betrayal: As Soraya confronts her own prejudices, she uncovers a web of deception where friends become foes and an assassin's dagger is always close.
• Forbidden Romance: To protect herself, Soraya must trust Gelti, the former guard captain, for self-defense lessons. But as they grow closer, their connection could be the most dangerous thing of all.

Review Quotes

Praise for Dagger and Coin: - ALA Booklist

"Soraya's compelling narration [is] as thrilling as the betrayals, murders, and desperate gambits propelling the plot. A fine balance of political intrigue, relationship drama, and thoughtful characterization." - Kirkus Reviews

"MacMillan has created a complex, nuanced world. Strong female characters taking the lead in a fast-paced plot will appeal to fans of fantasy, mythology, and work by Kristin Cashore." - School Library Journal

Praise for Sword and Verse: - Binnie Kirshenbaum

"I was completely enthralled by the fascinating and unique world. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough." - Franny Billingsley, award-winning author of Chime

"A tense, romantic fantasy epic about prejudice, political struggle, and the power of words, Sword and Verse kept me guessing at every turn. Kathy MacMillan is a writer to watch." - R.J. Anderson, Andre Norton Award-nominated author of ULTRAVIOLET R.J. Anderson, Andre Norton Award-nominated author of Ultraviolet

"Fans of Megan Whalen Turner will enjoy MacMillan's debut." - Publishers Weekly

"A thoughtful debut fantasy." - Kirkus Reviews

"MacMillan has created a believable world, complete with its own mythology. For voracious and dedicated fantasy readers." - School Library Journal

A coming-of-age novel about teens striving to learn who to trust, how to forgive, and how to move beyond their own personal needs. - Booklist Online

"MacMillan's love of learning, knowledge, and literacy shapes both plot and character development, while raising ethical questions with no easy answers. Beneath what appears to be a romantic fantasy, discerning readers will find complex, broader issues among the predictable comforts of the genre." - ALA Booklist

"This is a highly satisfying novel with an exciting conclusion. Filled with romance, political intrigue, and rebellion, this page-turner will be in high demand by fantasy lovers." - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"Rich in politics, intrigue, and betrayal, Dagger and Coin is a complex feminist fantasy featuring a tough and prickly ex-princess that I couldn't help but adore." - Heidi Heilig, author of The Girl From Everywhere