"With The Knave of Graves, Shank delivers an entire cosmology in shovelfuls of earth. Cerebral dark fantasy from a terrific storyteller." — Coy Hall, author of The Owl Men of Shanidar
"An elegantly written historical dark-fantasy filled with heart, humour, and dark magic." —Suzan Palumbo, author of Countess
Jeppo loathes his hometown and he can scarcely tolerate the townsfolk. Mostly, he despises his life as a gravedigger. He went to the Academy in the south, after all. He was never meant to take up his father’s shovel.
When a wicked sorcerer arrives at his gate demanding the bones of the local saint, Jeppo has no objection in principle. But he fears the wrath of the night hag, to whom he has been selling corpses for years.
Jeppo must choose the lesser of two evils, and do so quickly. The spiraling feud threatens to spill innocent blood … and worse still, his darkest secrets.
An excellent and engrossing tale.
Within the first few pages of "The Knave of Graves," I was transported into its world, which is simultaneously almost comfortably familiar while still being distinct and unsettling. I similarly found myself immediately captivated by its main character, a complex man who finds himself in an increasingly-complex situation, largely of his own making, that threatens to undo not just the life he's carved out for himself but the lives of many around him.
I hesitate to say more as so much of what makes this book great lies in experiencing the details, and twists and turns, of its story as the characters do. Thus, I will simply say that if you're a fan of dark fantasy with a range of rich, sophisticated, and dynamic elements, "The Knave of Graves" is an exceptional read. Highly recommended!