{"product_id":"the-fallen-blade-act-one-of-the-assassini-paperback","title":"The Fallen Blade: Act One of the Assassini - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJon Courtenay Grimwood\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the depths of night, customs officers board a galley in a harbor and overpower its guards. In the hold they find oil and silver, and a naked boy chained to the bulkhead. Stunningly beautiful but half-starved, the boy has no name. The officers break the boy's chains to rescue him, but he escapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVenice is at the height of its power. Duke Marco commands the seas, taxes his colonies, and, like every duke before him, fears assassins better than his own. In a side chapel, Marco's thirteen-year old cousin prays for deliverance from her forced marriage. It is her bad fortune to be there when Moorish pirates break in to steal a chalice, but it is the Moors' good fortune - they kidnap her and demand ransom from the Duke.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs day dawns, Atilo, the Duke's chief assassin, prepares to kill the man who let in the pirates. Having cut the traitor's throat, he turns back, having heard a noise, and finds a stranger crouched over the dying man, drinking blood from the wound. The speed with which the boy dodges a dagger and scales a pillar stuns Atilo. And the assassin knows he has to find the boy. Not to kill him though - because he's finally found what he thought he would never find.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSomeone fit to be his apprentice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJon Courtenay Grimwood\u003c\/b\u003e was born in Malta and christened in the upturned bell of a ship. He grew up in the Far East, Britain and Scandinavia. Apart from writing novels he works for magazines and newspapers. For five years he wrote a monthly review column for the \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e JCG's novels \u003ci\u003eFelaheen\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eEnd of the World Blues\u003c\/i\u003e, won the BSFA Award for Best Novel. He has been shortlisted twice for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and shortlisted for the British Fantasy Award, the August Derleth Award (UK), John W Campbell Memorial Award (US), among other awards. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHe is married to the journalist and novelist Sam Baker, currently editor-in-chief of \u003ci\u003eRed\u003c\/i\u003e. They divide their time between London and Winchester.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 464\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.4 x 8.2 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 01, 2011\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51763624509728,"sku":"9780316074391","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/efc2ce02bd1f51f66d8658efdf2afd06.webp?v=1780237282","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/the-fallen-blade-act-one-of-the-assassini-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}