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Literally breathtaking….Baru Cormorant as a character is magnificent. I found it impossible not to root for her even amid horrors of her making, to grieve with her and for her at various points, to clench my fists in her defense and in desperate need for her to stay whole. There is so much to admire and so much to mourn throughout the building tragedy of this novel.
— NPR.org
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A breathtaking contender with George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones. Perfect for those who thrive on fantasy with Machiavellian overtones, this labyrinthine story starts off a wee bit slow but soon enough sets you on the path toward a high-stakes clash you're almost afraid to reach.
— Omnivoracious
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Dickinson's dense, chewy, deftly orchestrated narrative cleverly exploits fiat money and debt as tools of statecraft…. A highly impressive debut that engages intellectually.
— Kirkus Reviews
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Dickinson’s debut, the start of a trilogy set in an impressively well-crafted fantasy world, is assured and impressive….Readers will share every one of Baru’s strong, suppressed emotions. Dickinson’s worldbuilding is ambitious and his language deviously subtle; both are seductive in their complexity.
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
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Brutal, relentless and with the heartbreaking beauty of the best tragedies.
— Aliette de Bodard, Nebula Award-winning author of “The Waiting Stars”
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A beautiful, perfectly formed crystal of a novel.
— John Chu, Hugo Award-winning author of "The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere"
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An intelligent and accomplished first novel reminiscent of Le Guin in its reflections on imperialism, colonialism, and the attractions and corruptions of power.
— Una McCormack, New York Times bestselling author of The Crimson Shadow
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Smart. Brutal. Gut-wrenching...Get ready to have your heart ripped out through your throat. Highly recommended.
— Kameron Hurley, author of The Mirror Empire
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Dickinson has written a poet's Dune, a brutal tale of empire, rebellion, fealty, and high finance that moves like a rocket and burns twice as hot. The Traitor Baru Cormorant is a mic drop for epic fantasy.
— Max Gladstone, author of the Craft Sequence
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Amazing and inventive.
— Tobias Buckell, New York Times bestselling author of the Xenowealth series
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A fascinating tale of political intrigue and national unrest.
— The Washington Post