City of Lies

Set in a world of subterfuge, treachery and the poisoner's art, this bold and exciting debut epic fantasy introduces a remarkable new talent to the genre and is a must-read for fans, from Joe Abercrombie and Terry Brooks to Robin Hobb and Scott Lynch . . .

I was seven years old the first time my uncle poisoned me... 
 
Jovan wears two faces. Outwardly, he is the lifelong friend of the Chancellor’s charming, irresponsible heir. He’s quiet. Forgettable even. But in truth he is a master of poisons and chemicals, trained to protect the Chancellor’s family. Then there is his sister, Kalina. She hides her frustrations behind a mask of serenity. While other women of the city holds positions of power and responsibility, her path is full of secrets and lies - some hidden even from her own brother. 
 
It's when the Chancellor succumbs to an unknown poison and an army lays siege to the city that the siblings' world begins to truly unravel. Trapped and desperate, they soon discover that the society into which they were born and grew up also possesses two faces - for behind the sophistication and the beauty lies an ugly truth - this is a world built on oppression and treachery . . . 
 
This fabulous epic fantasy debut that will appeal to readers of Joe Abercrombie and Terry Brooks, Robin Hobb and Mark Lawrence and all points in between.

If the first line doesn’t make you buy this book, you should turn in your fantasy-lover’s badge. City of Lies got me through sitting seven hours in an airport, and proves that a tale about the one who risks his life to thwart assassins can be as compelling as any assassin’s tale.

City of Lies grips from the first line . . . a compelling fantasy whodunnit - imagine Agatha Christie channelled through Robin Hobb - and a page-turning coming-of-age tale.

A tale of poisoners, deceit and treachery that will surely keep readers entranced. I don’t read many stories as twisty and unpredictable, especially in the latter chapters, as this one, and I loved what Sam Hawke did.

Sibling protagonists anchor this sinuous story of old grievances coming to a boil. Hawke writes with nuance about the loves, loyalties, ambitions and resentments that bind her characters together and threaten to tear them apart.

Sam Hawke does a marvellous job . . . keeping the action tense and the mood fraught, with each plot twist and revelation driving you on to a shocking and satisfying conclusion. City of Lies combines a locked-room mystery with a spy thriller and action-packed fantasy to create an experience that leave you reading late into the night.

Absolutely loved this; the world building is brilliant, the mystery and crime elements merge seamlessly into a fantastical world of poisoners, warrior-guilds and ancient magic. But the heart of the story is the central characters, they’re written with such depth: flawed, human and likeable. City of Lies is a wonderful read and one that I’d highly recommend to all lovers of fantasy.

An enormously enjoyable read, one of the best new fantasies I’ve seen in a long time.

With lush worldbuilding and a tight, twisting plot, City of Lies plants Hawke as a bold new fantasy voice.

Without doubt the best fantasy novel I read this year. With an opening line that resonates and it’s sprawling epic world full of political shenanigans and betrayal it is the very definition of a literary page turner.

City of Lies is one of the standout debuts – and books – of the year, and stands alone while opening the door for sequels already in the works – and which I’ll definitely be reading!

Part murder mystery, part political thriller with a fantastical heart . . . I was utterly engrossed from beginning to end.

A tightly wound and ever escalating plot is complemented by the cast's refreshing nuances . . . even when magic comes into play the story never loses its essentially human and relatable scale, making it stand out from more sprawling, cinematic fare. A well-crafted debut with believable political intrigues, solid world-building, and original characters.

An absolute revelation . . . the book really blew me away when I first read it, evoking subtle shades of Robin Hobb's Farseer books . . . if you haven't checked out Sam's writing, you really need to.  She is a shining star in the genre.

'Sam Hawke injects her story with charismatic prose, characters with flair and also has one of the best opening lines that I've ever read in speculative fiction.'

THE ACCLAIMED, AWARD-WINNING DEBUT FANTASY 
 
'A compelling fantasy whodunit - imagine Agatha Christie channelled through Robin Hobb - and a page-turning coming-of-age tale' Guardian 
________ 
 
I was seven years old the first time my uncle poisoned me . . . 
 
Only a handful of people in Silasta know Jovan’s real purpose in life. To most, he is just another son of the ruling class. The quiet, forgettable friend of the Chancellor’s charming, irresponsible heir. In reality, Jovan has been trained for most of his life to detect, concoct and withstand poisons in order to protect the ruling family. 
 
His sister Kalina is too frail to share in their secret family duty. While other women of the city hold positions of power and responsibility, her path is full of secrets and lies – some hidden even from her own brother. 
 
Until now, peace has reigned in Silasta for hundreds of years. But when the Chancellor succumbs to an unknown poison and an army storms the gates, the so-called Bright City is completely unprepared. It falls to Jovan and Kalina to protect the heir and save their homeland – but first they must make their way through a new world of unexpected treachery, a world where the ancient spirits are rising . . . and angry. 
 
This fabulous epic fantasy debut will appeal to readers of Joe Abercrombie and Terry Brooks, Robin Hobb and Mark Lawrence and all points in between.

Sam Hawke

A masterpiece of intrigue and mystery with a nameless, faceless enemy      hellbent on destruction. I loved it.

ANNA STEPHENS, author of the bestselling Godblind

Utterly brilliant . . . The Poison Wars novels contain some of the best world-building I've ever read, a wonderful sibling bond unlike anything in fantasy, all wrapped together in a mystery I couldn't put down. Highly recommend!

S A CHAKRABORTY, author of the bestselling Daevabad Trilogy

A richly textured tale of old treachery and new intrigue . . . Fans will savour Hawke's well-shaded characters, the lavish descriptions of their fictional world, and Hawke's acute analyses of self-doubt, guilt, discrimination, and recrimination. This is a political epic done right

Hollow Empire delivers mystery, suspense, thrills, action, setbacks, puzzles, red herrings, emotional gut-punches, moments of despair - and triumph - and even a little romance . . . a true fantasy masterpiece

One of Australia's leading imaginative authors

Moments that truly made me want to cry . . . others that had me at the edge of my seat - it's so good . . . Would I recommend this? 100000% . . . one of my favourite series of all time. My rating: 5/5 stars

Hawke's exemplary prose thrusts readers directly into the action, both physical and magical, building tension and excitement until the final pages.

The world building is truly extraordinary . . . an edge of the seat finale . . . the writing is beautiful . . . it encompasses the best of all reading worlds and is both evocative and intelligent - with an added dose of page turning quality that will see its 500+ pages fly by if you let them. Highly recommended

I highly recommend Hollow Empire . . . an incredible sequel, worth every second of waiting. It showcases one of the best (and local!) voices in fantasy. If you want a diverse, character driven story with exquisite world building and characters you would lay down your life for, do yourself a favour and pick up these books

The brilliant new fantasy from the acclaimed and multi-award winning author of City of Lies . . . 
 
'Marvellous . . . will leave you reading late into the night.' SFX 
 
'Poisoners, deceit and treachery . . . will surely keep readers entranced.' TERRY BROOKS 
 
'One of the standout debuts - and books - of the year.' THE FANTASY HIVE 
 
'Absolutely loved this . . . a wonderful read.' JOHN GWYNNE 
 
'One of the best new fantasies I've seen in a long time.' ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY 
 
'A bold new fantasy voice.' LAURA LAM 
_____________________________________________ 
 
You never get used to poisoning a child . . . 
 
Two years after a devastating siege tore the country apart, Silasta has recovered. But to the frustration of poison-taster siblings Jovan and Kalina, sworn to protect the Chancellor, the city has grown complacent in its new-found peace and prosperity. 
 
And now, amid the celebrations of the largest carnival the continent has ever seen, it seems a mysterious enemy has returned. 
 
The death of a former adversary sets Jovan on the trail of a cunning killer, while Kalina negotiates the treacherous politics of visiting dignitaries, knowing that this vengeful mastermind may lurk among the princes and dukes, noble ladies and priests. But their investigations uncover another conspiracy which now threatens not just Silasta and the Chancellor but also their own family. 
 
Assassins, witches and a dangerous criminal network are all closing in. And brother and sister must once more fight to save their city - and everyone they hold dear - from a patient, powerful enemy determined to tear it all down . . .

Sam Hawke

Praise for Hollow Empire

A masterpiece of intrigue and mystery with a nameless, faceless enemy hellbent on destruction. I loved it.

Utterly brilliant . . . The Poison Wars novels contain some of the best world-building I've ever read, a wonderful sibling bond unlike anything in fantasy, all wrapped together in a mystery I couldn't put down. High ...

A richly textured tale of old treachery and new intrigue . . . Fans will savour Hawke's well-shaded characters, the lavish descriptions of their fictional world, and Hawke's acute analyses of self-doubt, guilt, disc ...

A masterpiece of intrigue and mystery with a nameless, faceless enemy hellbent on destruction. I loved it.

Utterly brilliant . . . The Poison Wars novels contain some of the best world-building I've ever read, a wonderful sibling bond unlike anything in fantasy, all wrapped together in a mystery I couldn't put down. High ...

A richly textured tale of old treachery and new intrigue . . . Fans will savour Hawke's well-shaded characters, the lavish descriptions of their fictional world, and Hawke's acute analyses of self-doubt, guilt, disc ...

A masterpiece of intrigue and mystery with a nameless, faceless enemy hellbent on destruction. I loved it.

Utterly brilliant . . . The Poison Wars novels contain some of the best world-building I've ever read, a wonderful sibling bond unlike anything in fantasy, all wrapped together in a mystery I couldn't put down. High ...

A richly textured tale of old treachery and new intrigue . . . Fans will savour Hawke's well-shaded characters, the lavish descriptions of their fictional world, and Hawke's acute analyses of self-doubt, guilt, disc ...

Books by Sam Hawke

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