A press release from Sophie Calder of Gollancz:
The first book of The Erebus Sequence:
THE BOY WITH THE PORCELAIN BLADE
by DEN PATRICK
Gollancz, 20 March 2014
Hardback: £20.00 / eBook: £7.99
From former bookseller, comics editor and writer of witty non-fiction, comes an exhilarating debut novel from a distinctive new voice, The Boy with the Porcelain Blade by Den Patrick.
With echoes of Mervyn Peake, Robin Hobb and Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Den Patrick’s ornate yet dark fantasy story takes place in a pseudo-Renaissance Italy populated by unforgettable characters.
Lucien di Fontein grew up in isolation in the Kingdom of Landfall. He is a talented fighter yet constantly lonely, tormented by his deformity, and well aware that he is a mere pawn in a political game. Ruled by an insane King, this is a world where corruption and decay are deeply rooted…
Written with vivid imagination and a slyly effective way with words, Den Patrick creates for his debut novel both a believable world and, most importantly, a warm empathy with Lucien Di Fontein as he struggles to find his place among the nobility. The author writes: “Lucien grows up in world that makes little sense, rife with oppression, stifled with tradition. His only chance at survival is to make allies among the four great houses, but then he finds himself cast out, with only his wits and determination to see him through.”
Den Patrick was born in Dorset in 1975 and shares a birthday with Bram Stoker. He has at various times been an editor, burlesque reviewer and games workshop staffer. He lives and works in London.
Patrick’s first three non-fiction books for Gollancz, The War Manuals, were published in 2013. The world rights for his fantasy series, The Erebus Sequence, were also won by Gollancz for a high-profile six-figure deal. The Boy with the Porcelain Blade is the first novel of the trilogy set on the wind-swept isle of Landfall, amid the citadel of Demesne. For more information, visit www.denpatrick.com or follow @Den_Patrick.
Praise for The War Manuals:
“This is an intelligent, thoughtful, funny writer, steeped in the subject’s history, and with a great deal to offer.” – ONE CHAPTER MORE
‘Den Patrick has built a world that showcases his passion for this genre, as well as a lot of imagination and humour.’–FANTASY BOOK REVIEW
“we are transported to a ready-made environment open to whatever quests and adventures we please….excellent little gems.” – BRITISH FANTASY SOCIETY