Description
From the author of A Taste of Gold and Iron - Our Flag Means Death meets Six of Crows as a merry band of misfits attempts to get away with treason on the high seas.
Avra Helvaci, former field agent of the Arashti Ministry of Intelligence, has accidentally stolen the single most expensive secret in the world - and the only place to flee with a secret that big is the open sea.
To find a buyer with deep enough pockets, Avra must ask for help from his on-again, off-again ex, the pirate Captain Teveri az-Haffar. They are far from happy to see him but, together, they hatch a plan: take the information to the isolated pirate republic of the Isles of Lost Souls; fence it; profit. The only things in their way? A calculating new Arashti ambassador to the Isles of Lost Souls who's got his eyes on Avra's every move; Brother Julian, a beautiful, mysterious new member of the crew with secrets of his own and a frankly inconvenient vow of celibacy; and the fact that they're sailing straight into sea serpent breeding season and almost certain doom.
But if they can find a way to survive and sell the secret on the black market, they'll all be as wealthy as kings - and, more importantly, they'll be legends.
'A whip-smart, hilarious and exuberant high seas romp' - Freya Marske, bestselling author of A Marvellous Light
About the Author
Alexandra Rowland is the author of A Taste of Gold and Iron, A Conspiracy Of Truths, A Choir Of Lies, and Some by Virtue Fall, as well as a Hugo Award-nominated podcaster (all sternly supervised by their feline quality control manager). They hold a degree in world literature, mythology, and folklore from Truman State University.
Reviews
Come for the irrepressible gremlin of a narrator, stay for the plot-relevant cake competitions! A whip-smart, hilarious and exuberant high seas romp -- Freya Marske, author of A Marvellous Light
Simply a masterpiece. Uproariously funny, exquisitely witty, brimming with buckling of swashes and scuttling of butts, an adventure tale peppered with heartfelt moments and the power of friendship like so much grapeshot. Put me in a rowboat and tow me behind the ship if I tell a lie -- Premee Mohamed, author of Beneath the Rising
I've never fallen so instantly in love with a story as with Running Close to the Wind by the inimitable Alexandra Rowland. Incredible fun, endearing characters, and a beautiful message wrapped in a sea-serpent bow -- Seth Haddon, author of Reborn
A delicious tangle of romance, fealty and dangerous politics -- Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne on A Taste of Gold and Iron
A Taste of Gold and Iron is a slow-burn romance flush with sexy, complicated relationships, founded on the ethics of duty and love. As indulgent and satisfying as your favourite fanfiction -- Tessa Gratton, author of Blood Magic on A Taste of Gold and Iron
Witty, clever, and often extremely funny, Rowland's tale of a prince who doesn't want power but has it anyway - and must survive all the risks that brings with it - somehow manages to be both soft and hard-edged, clever and kind. And sexy! -- Jenn Lyons, author of The Ruin of Kings on A Taste of Gold and Iron
This book gleams and sparkles with emotion and sensory detail, showcasing the richness of Rowland's created world. It's a hugely satisfying blend of economic intrigue, vivid characters, and slow-burn romance - and it's also, frequently, funny as hell -- Freya Markse, author of A Marvellous Light on A Taste of Gold and Iron
This slow-burn romantic fantasy with a heavy dose of political intrigue is rich in world-building and emotional angst . . . A queernormative fantasy world -- BuzzFeed on A Taste of Gold and Iron
Book Information
ISBN 9781529099706
Author Alexandra Rowland
Format Hardback
Page Count 416
Imprint Tor
Publisher Pan Macmillan