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Sign up todayThe Blacktongue Thief
Blacktongue: Book #1
Narrator
Christopher Buehlman
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Length
12 hours 44 minutes
Language
English
Bookseller recommendation
“I came for murder crows and a master thief. I stayed for a bewitched cat and overly exuberant, hilariously unconventional dialogs and quips. This is a fantasy fever dream with crazy magic, sarcastic characters, terrifying enemies, and nonstop action. Every word and every character flew off the pages of this book, bringing to life a fast-paced and unforgettable story. WOAH! What a ride! This might possibly be one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to. I HIGHLY recommend this book—even to non-fantasy readers!”
— Anna Rose • The Well-Read Moose
Bookseller recommendation
“Come for the battle ravens, stay for the probably-bewitched cat! Buehlman's latest will have you laughing one moment and gasping the next, and you'll wonder what fascinating new concept he'll come up with next. As Kinch Na Shannack takes an epic journey, you explore this exquisitely built world with him, your sardonic narrator, along with nonstop action. A few raunchy jokes and scenes (as a warning for those who don't prefer it). ”
— Amber • Quail Ridge Books
Bookseller recommendation
“The Blacktongue Thief (and prequel The Daughters' War -- note that they can be read in either order) are not the dime-store Tolkien that their synopses might lead you to imagine. Christopher Buehlman's strengths lie in thorough, subtle worldbuilding and using familiar fantasy trappings in surprising ways. He even made goblins scary! (No small feat, as a tabletop gamer.) What stands out most are his unforgettable narrators. Kinch made me laugh out loud with his many asides, while Galva is passionate, poetic, and wry. I can't wait to meet the third book's narrator. As audiobooks, they are top-notch. The Blacktongue Thief is read by the author in a Scottish brogue that becomes quite impressive when you learn that he's from Florida. His delivery is on the level of a professional voice actor. The Daughters' War narrator Nikki Garcia's delivery is perfect -- quiet, sorrowful, and strong. Several scenes that feature songs are actually set to music, and her singing is just as good as her reading. The song from Chapter 20 was stuck in my head for days!”
— Graham • Next Chapter Booksellers
Bookseller recommendation
“Come for the battle ravens, stay for the probably-bewitched cat! Buehlman's latest will have you laughing one moment and gasping the next, and you'll wonder what fascinating new concept he'll come up with next. As Kinch Na Shannack takes an epic journey, you explore this exquisitely built world with him, your sardonic narrator, along with nonstop action. A few raunchy jokes and scenes (as a warning for those who prefer to skip it). ”
— Amber • Quail Ridge Books
Bookseller recommendation
“This book captures everything I loved about high fantasy as a kid without the misogyny and racism. Christopher Buehlman's narration is compelling, his tone and pacing finely honed over his long career touring renaissance festivals. While remaining an utter delight from beginning to end, it is layered with a nuanced and honest exploration of a fantasy realm that doesn't hide its teeth, while always retaining care for characters and readers alike.”
— Stephanie • Print: A Bookstore
Bookseller recommendation
“I devoured this book within days! Great for fans of high fantasy like Lord of the Rings and Dungeons and Dragons, yet it is still wholly original and refreshing. It reads like a tale told by the hearth of a musty tavern from the first-person perspective of our witty, vulgar, and downright hilarious protagonist Kinch Na Shannack. Our thief regales us with his journey through Manreach where he met noble knights, mighty war corvids, mysterious witches, drunken sailors, a fierce kraken, nasty goblins, and ferocious giants. The audiobook is narrated by the author himself, showcasing his talent with various accents! Like Tolkien's books, The Blacktongue Thief contains much music and poetry which I especially appreciated in the audio version. If you're looking for a fast-paced, magic-filled, action-packed thrill-ride that will keep you laughing out loud all the way through, you need to read this book!”
— Eli • Bookshop Santa Cruz
Bookseller recommendation
“Whew! What a delight! Come on an epic adventure a la Dungeons & Dragons style. Our thief/rogue is in trouble (as always) and must get out of town. Ah! a quest awaits! Christopher Buehlman does his own reading in the audio version and it is absolutely fantastic and I will absolutely listen to it again.”
— Liesl • Boulder Book Store
"This irreverent fantasy is narrated superbly by author Christopher Buehlman. Along with his firsthand knowledge of the text and how he means it to be conveyed, Buehlman uses nuance, inflection, and a casual way of saying outrageous things to continually tickle the funny bone." -- AudioFile Magazine
Set in a world of goblin wars, stag-sized battle ravens, and assassins who kill with deadly tattoos, Christopher Buehlman's The Blacktongue Thief begins a 'dazzling' (Robin Hobb) fantasy adventure unlike any other.
Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path.
But today, Kinch Na Shannack has picked the wrong mark.
Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. She is searching for her queen, missing since a distant northern city fell to giants.
Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds his fate entangled with Galva's. Common enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford.
A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books
“The Blacktongue Thief is fast and fun and filled with crazy magic. I can't wait to see what Christopher Buehlman does next." - Brent Weeks, New York Times bestselling author of the Lightbringer series
CHRISTOPHER BUEHLMAN (he/him) is an author, comedian, and screenwriter from St. Petersburg, Florida, whose books include The Blacktongue Thief, The Daughters' War, and Between Two Fires. He spent his youth touring renaissance festivals in the US, performing his cult-favorite comedy act, Christophe the Insultor. As of this writing he lives in Ohio with his aerialist wife, Jennifer, an ancient rescue dog named Duck, and two cats who just showed up, as they do.
CHRISTOPHER BUEHLMAN (he/him) is an author, comedian, and screenwriter from St. Petersburg, Florida, whose books include The Blacktongue Thief, The Daughters' War, and Between Two Fires. He spent his youth touring renaissance festivals in the US, performing his cult-favorite comedy act, Christophe the Insultor. As of this writing he lives in Ohio with his aerialist wife, Jennifer, an ancient rescue dog named Duck, and two cats who just showed up, as they do.
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Reviews
“Beuhlman's prose floats nimbly from grisly to lyrical and back again, evoking a damaged world that's by turns bleak and starkly beautiful. A fantastical road trip with a hard-boiled sensibility, complete with shape-shifting assassins, murderous kraken and some delightfully gruesome magic.”—A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name
“Wow! Truly outstanding. I can't say enough about how good The Blacktongue Thief is. Damned good stuff.”—Glen Cook, author of The Black Company
“Equal parts fairy tale, D&D adventure, and acid trip. Buehlman has successfully blended the essences of these elements into something at once familiar and fresh. I look forward to returning to this evocative and f*cked up world!”—Jonathan French, author of The Grey Bastards
“The Blacktongue Thief is a masterclass in voice and thoughtful world design, with a wonderful cast and a protagonist who grabs you instantly. Fans of Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora will love this one.”—Django Wexler, author of The Thousand Names
“Dark, gritty, lightning-fast, intelligent, irreverent . . . I loved it.”—Anna Smith Spark, author of The Court of Broken Knives
“Masterfully woven, joyfully mischievous, but also tragic and so heartfelt. Fans of Nicholas Eames and Joe Abercrombie will love The Blacktongue Thief.”—Brian Naslund, author of Blood of an Exile
“Nobody combines the lyrical and visceral quite like Christopher Buehlman. The Blacktongue Thief is fantasy of distinction—in its wit, its hard magic, its chiseled detail. Prepare to be transported.”—Andrew Pyper, author of The Demonologist and The Homecoming
“Instantly immersive, with wit as sharp as a thief's blade and the most frightening take on goblins I've ever read.”—David Dalglish, author of the Shadowdance series
“Joyfully mischievous, but also tragic and so heartfelt. Fans of Nicholas Eames and Joe Abercrombie will love The Blacktongue Thief.”—Brian Naslund, author of Blood of an Exile
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