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This is possibly, the best book I have ever read. Period. It has Everything. You. Could. Ever. Want.

Characters Therein Include, but are not Limited to:
~A Mad Duke Uncle, who used to be gay and madly devoted to the Swordsman Richard St Vier, but now throws Orgies, Entertains scholars, and consoles himself by poking at Society with his middle finger.
~Lady Katherine, the Duke's crossdressing, bisexual, swordswoman of a niece (and the main character)
~Marcus, an ex-prostitute, the Mad Duke's right-hand man, and best friend and stalking partner of the fair and courageous Lady Kate
~The vile Lord Ferris, the Crescent Chancellor, who is composed and perfect in every but in how he treats ladies, rapine, and his greedy self-serving manner.
~Lady Flavia, "That Ugly Girl of the Mad Duke's," with whom he shares witty repartee and the solving of math puzzles
~The Lord Lucius Perry, who leads a triple life, prostituting himself for his own amusement, being a dutiful cousin to his family, and pining for his true Ladylove, the artist and playwright...
~Teresa Grey, who has run away from her mad, abusive husband; from whose family she is beset by hateful letters, while she makes her living with what artistic skills she can harken to her cause.
~Richard St. Vier, a Master Swordsman, a lover of the Mad Duke, a teacher to the Lady Katherine, and has who has retreated to the Country because he has become two-thirds blind.
~The young Lady Artemisia Fitz-Levi, friend of Lady Katherine, and who is being forced into marrying the vile Lord Ferris.
~The Black Rose, an actress of renown, a scorned lover of Lord Ferris, and an informer to, and particular friend of, the Mad Duke

Crossdressing! Humor! Swordfights! Orgies! Revenge! Affairs of Honor! Sexuality! Blood!
Treachery! Stalking! Witty Repartee! Murder! Flights from the Law!
and True Love!

Now you tell me, what's not to Love?

Go read this book. Now. You won't regret it.

The Privilege of the Sword

By Ellen Kushner

Small pow'r the word has,
And can afford us
Not half so much privilege as
The sword does.
~Anon., "The Dominion of the Sword" (165 cool

"I do not make the rules. This annoys me, and so I comfort myself by breaking them."
The Mad Duke Tremontaine, Duke of Riverside




Ellen Kushner's Webpage