My Keen Knife - (Foul Is Fair) by Ana Davis (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Do not be afraid to survive, Lady Malves, and to be a little wicked when you do."

Driven by a prophecy uttered over her brother's dying body, a teenager in line for the throne must kill her way to the crown, recruiting a boy with the power to talk to the dead and his ambitious brother in this stunning, innovative retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Book Synopsis

Fair is foul and foul is fair in a country ravaged by the lies of its monarchy. To claim the crown, Adelina, Seba, and Jasibin must learn to be a little wicked...even if it means betraying each other.

All hail Malves, who shall wear crowns.
On the night of her brother's murder, Adelina Malves holds him as he dies, inheriting both his title and the prophecy that spelled out his doom. If she's to avenge him and avoid a similar death, she must claim the crown of Jumaral by ruthlessly cutting down every family member ahead of her in the line of succession and uncover the secret that got her brother killed.

Hail! Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none.
Ghost-whispering Jasibin holds the key to Adelina's plan to contact her dead brother--if only his strange magic wasn't killing him slowly. To fulfill his own prophecy and protect his brother Seba, he must discover the source of his magic before he's lost to the land of the dead.

All hail, Sebastião, that shall be king hereafter.
Seba is desperate for a way out of Jumaral and the substantial financial debt his dead mother left him. When a witch sees the riches of a king in his future, Adelina's offer of coin in exchange for help feels like fate, pulling Seba into a fake dating plot with Adelina that hides their sinister plans.

In this stunning, innovative retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth set in a Portugal-inspired country, three teenagers will stop at nothing to fulfill their destinies.

Review Quotes

"Shakespeare's cursed tragedy Macbeth gets an alchemical reimagining with a sprinkling of steampunk in My Keen Knife... Readers of genre fantasy will enjoy debut author Davis' beautiful world building and discussions of good and evil. Queer identities and relationships are a refreshingly simple fact in this world... A deep look into young minds corrupted by power, faith, and deceit." --Booklist

"Davis serves revenge dressed in gorgeous prose and rich worldbuilding. My Keen Knife is the definition of supporting women's wrongs, and it's so beautiful you won't mind the blood it leaves behind. A must-read for anyone who loves manipulative queens who will do anything to get what they want." --T.R. Moore, author of the forthcoming The Gods Must Burn

"A bloody and dark retelling of Macbeth with an unforgettable heroine, My Keen Knife is a tightly plotted debut that will make you laugh, make you cry, make you scream, and make you demand the second book immediately. Lady Adelina is the villainous heroine of my dreams." --Kamilah Cole, Lodestar Award finalist and bestselling author of the Divine Traitors duology

"If Adelina is wicked, then I want nothing to do with good. This riveting Macbeth retelling offers something to both bardolators and those less familiar with the source material. I was swept away by the lush Portugal-inspired setting, twisty plot, and morally-grey heroine who will steal your heart while holding a knife to your throat." --S. Hati, author of And the Sky Bled

"Wickedly good and as sharp as a blade, Davis's prose cuts through Shakespeare's original text and creates something wholly new and devilishly divine. Legacy, betrayal, and an undying desire to fulfill one's destiny culminate to form a unique retelling of a beloved and bloody classic. My Keen Knife will slice through the deepest parts of your soul and ask the ultimate question: are we human or are we monster?" --Teagan Olivia King, author of Spit Back the Bones and the forthcoming fantasy novel, Bitterbloom

"A vividly written historical reckoning featuring a sharp cast of characters that interrogates the macabre and sublime all at once." --Yejin Suh, author of The Last Soldier of Nava

"My Keen Knife is an addictive, fast-paced read with treacherous twists and turns. Adelina is a delightfully conniving heroine, who manipulates everyone expertly, including the reader. Lovers of fantasy will devour the rich and darkly magical setting." --R. A. Basu, author of To Bargain with Mortals

About the Author

Ana Davis is a fantasy writer, currently pursuing dual master's degrees in what amount to Human Rights and International Conflict (the actual names are a mouthful). She recently graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor's degree in International Affairs. Ana was a mentee for round nine of Author Mentor Match, and she remains far too invested in the books she read in high school English class.