The Crimson Road - by Angela Slatter (Paperback)

About the Book

"Violet Zennor, raised to be a ruthless fighter in underground arenas, believes she is finally free after her father's death, only to face assassins and a grim destiny amidst the Darklands and the ominous Leech Lords, compelling her to confront her family's dark legacy"--

Book Synopsis

A captivating dark gothic fantasy set in the same universe as the award-winning author's All The Murmuring Bones, The Path of Thorns and The Briar Book of the Dead. A tale of vampires, assassins, ancient witches and broken promises, perfect for readers of Alix E. Harrow, Hannah Whitten and Alexis Henderson.

Violet Zennor has had a peculiar upbringing. Training as a fighter in underground arenas, honing her skills against the worst scum, murderers and thieves her father could pit her against, she has learned to be ruthless. To kill.

Until the day Hedrek Zennor dies. Violet thinks she's free - then she learns that her father planned to send her into the Darklands, where the Leech Lords reign. Where Violet's still-born brother was taken years ago. Violet steadfastly refuses. Until one night two assassins attempt to slaughter her - and it becomes clear: she's going to have to clean up the mess her father made.

By turns gripping and bewitching, sharp and audacious, this mesmerising story takes you on a journey into the dark heart of Slatter's sinister and compelling fantasy world in a tale of vampires, assassins, ancient witches and broken promises.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Crimson Road

"Deftly weaving the threads of her previous novels into a tapestry all its own, A.G. Slatter's The Crimson Road is part fantasy adventure, part dark fairytale, and all sharp teeth as the latest of her bright, fierce heroines is forced to grapple with the bonds of family, legacy, and love in order to save her world. I eagerly await the next book in the Sourdough universe!"
Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's Heart and The Weaver and the Witch Queen

"A rich and decadent world where mystery waits around every bend, and darkness lurks just beneath the surface. The Crimson Road has the feel of being equal parts fairy tale and hidden history. Dark family secrets abound in a perfect blend of Gothic and fairy-tale fiction - Slatter knocks it out of the park once again."
A.C. Wise, author of Wendy, Darling and Hooked

"Angela Slatter continues to tantalise us with a further glimpse into her intricate and thrilling world of interconnected tales. As well as the sinister Leech Lords, The Crimson Road gives us Violet: a scarred but determined woman fighting against a destiny that men have assigned her. There's plenty of adventure here to keep a reader gripped as they follow Violet into the darkness - both the one that lurks in the world, and the darkness inside herself. Another beguiling tale from an author at the height of her powers."
Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong and Song of the Huntress

"A.G. Slatter has a unique gift for balancing light and dark in the fairy-tale gothic. The result is a deliciously sinister fantasy world, with vampire-slaying heroines to rival Buffy, witches who pay a bloody price for their magic, and heiresses who uncover secrets lurking in their family trees - but it's also a world so full of unexpected cosiness, warmth and delight that every Halloween lover will want to curl up in it. The Crimson Road brings together all this and more, like a 'Greatest Hits' compilation of Slatter's startlingly original work to date, taking the reader on an epic journey filled with danger into the heart of the Leech-infested Darklands. Utterly irresistible."
Ally Wilkes, author of All the White Spaces and Where the Dead Wait

"The Crimson Road delivers heart-pounding gothic adventure, a glittering world of mystery and menace, and a formidable heroine."
Stephanie Feldman, author of Saturnalia

"I adored returning to Angela Slatter's Sourdough world once more in The Crimson Road. Violet's journey to the mysterious Darklands revealed some delightfully familiar faces, as well as some truly frightening new ones. Angela Slatter spins a tale filled with adventure, danger, loyalty, love and family secrets - readers will love sinking their teeth into this one!"
Kell Woods, author of After the Forest and Upon a Starlit Tide

"The immersive worldbuilding, fascinating magical lore, and strong heroine make this worth a look" - Publishers Weekly

About the Author

A.G. Slatter Angela has won a Shirley Jackson Award, a World Fantasy Award, a British Fantasy Award, a Ditmar, three Australian Shadows Awards and eight Aurealis Awards. Most recently, All the Murmuring Bones was shortlisted for the 2021 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards Book of the Year and the 2021 Shirley Jackson Award; The Path of Thorns won the 2022 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel and the 2022 Australian Shadows Award for Best Novel. She has an MA and a PhD in Creative Writing, is a graduate of Clarion South 2009 and the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop 2006. Angela's short stories have appeared in many Best Of anthologies, and her work has been translated into many languages. She lives in Brisbane, Australia.