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Tremontaine #1.5
The Dagger and the Sword
Swordplay and stolen kisses keep the blood pumping and flowing in the new installment of Tremontaine, the online episodic series set in Ellen Kushner's beloved Riverside universe.
With Ben murdered, Tess needs a new protector . . . and Kaab, crushing hard, is determined to screen all applicants at swordpoint. Micah struggles to make her numbers come out right. And on the Hill, Diane gives Will his marching orders for the next Council meeting, on which the fate of the Tremontaine fortune hinges and dispatches a dangerous servant to Riverside.
This episode is brought to you by Alaya Dawn Johnson, whose numbers always come out right.
The Dagger and the Sword continues the 13-part serial, Tremontaine, presented by Serial Box. This prequel to the cult classic Swordspoint is brought to you by the collaborative effort of a team of writers under the creative direction of Ellen Kushner herself.
Join the dance of swordplay and scandal, week after week, on SerialBox.com
And don’t forget to share the love! If you’re enjoying Tremontaine, help us get the word out by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and Tumblr, and telling your friends about us! We’d also love to hear what you think, so please give us a review!
With Ben murdered, Tess needs a new protector . . . and Kaab, crushing hard, is determined to screen all applicants at swordpoint. Micah struggles to make her numbers come out right. And on the Hill, Diane gives Will his marching orders for the next Council meeting, on which the fate of the Tremontaine fortune hinges and dispatches a dangerous servant to Riverside.
This episode is brought to you by Alaya Dawn Johnson, whose numbers always come out right.
The Dagger and the Sword continues the 13-part serial, Tremontaine, presented by Serial Box. This prequel to the cult classic Swordspoint is brought to you by the collaborative effort of a team of writers under the creative direction of Ellen Kushner herself.
Join the dance of swordplay and scandal, week after week, on SerialBox.com
And don’t forget to share the love! If you’re enjoying Tremontaine, help us get the word out by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and Tumblr, and telling your friends about us! We’d also love to hear what you think, so please give us a review!
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2015
123 people want to read
About the author
Alaya Dawn Johnson
93 books677 followersAlaya Johnson graduated from Columbia University in 2004 with a BA in East Asian Languages and Cultures. She lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 14, 2016
This episode had a multi-flashback format that was inconsistent with the style of the previous episodes, and didn't really feel necessary. The content was good, though! The plots thicken...
On to the next bit!
On to the next bit!
April 10, 2021
Onward to episode five (Season One) of Tremontaine titled The Dagger and the Sword written by Alaya Dawn Johnson.
With Ben murdered, Tess needs a new protector . . . and Kaab, deeply infatuated, is determined to screen all applicants at swordpoint. Micah struggles to make her numbers come out right. And on the Hill, Diane gives Will his marching orders for the next Council meeting, on which the fate of the Tremontaine fortune hinges – and dispatches a dangerous servant to Riverside.
Alaya Dawn Johnson decided to change the format a bit and wrote this episode jumping forwards and backwards in time. More Kaab and Tess as we spend a lot of time in Riverside. Kaab is looking for a new protector for her red-haired forger in a way that almost gets her killed in the process. Vincent Applethorpe comes to the rescue. Will is so besotted with Rafe that he forgets a very important meeting. Diane has to resort to plan B. Loved it!
The narration is done by Sarah Mollo-Christensen (Kaab, Micah, and Tess), Nick Sullivan (Rafe and William Tielman, Duke Tremontaine) and Katherine Kellgren (Diane, Duchess Tremontaine).
Available on Realm.
f/f, m/m, m/f it’s all very fluent and gay
Themes: sex, swordplay, scandal and hot chocolate!
5 Stars
With Ben murdered, Tess needs a new protector . . . and Kaab, deeply infatuated, is determined to screen all applicants at swordpoint. Micah struggles to make her numbers come out right. And on the Hill, Diane gives Will his marching orders for the next Council meeting, on which the fate of the Tremontaine fortune hinges – and dispatches a dangerous servant to Riverside.
Alaya Dawn Johnson decided to change the format a bit and wrote this episode jumping forwards and backwards in time. More Kaab and Tess as we spend a lot of time in Riverside. Kaab is looking for a new protector for her red-haired forger in a way that almost gets her killed in the process. Vincent Applethorpe comes to the rescue. Will is so besotted with Rafe that he forgets a very important meeting. Diane has to resort to plan B. Loved it!
The narration is done by Sarah Mollo-Christensen (Kaab, Micah, and Tess), Nick Sullivan (Rafe and William Tielman, Duke Tremontaine) and Katherine Kellgren (Diane, Duchess Tremontaine).
Available on Realm.
f/f, m/m, m/f it’s all very fluent and gay
Themes: sex, swordplay, scandal and hot chocolate!
5 Stars
October 23, 2018
That one was fun! Fun twists, nice character development. Tess and Kaab are adorable, Dionne is in her element. Good stuff.
October 23, 2016
This episode, for me, started off shaky and even annoying (with the "... hours later" device that I have come to consider so tired), but then progressed nicely and ended on a high note. And Kaab's PoV in particular gained some nuance this time, as well as being written in a very memorable way. That said, I still can't help but cheer for all the wrong characters.
January 3, 2017
I like the development of Kaab's character.
September 20, 2020
I'm burning through all of Riverside this autumn.
This was a well-written episode - I like Johnson's style, it seems - though I was not fond of the flashback format ("X hours ago... cut to now... cut to Y hours ago", and so on). A new character is introduced and the Duchess gets some well-deserved screentime. There's a couple of good mood-setting scenes that give us more of Riverside and its inhabitants. Definitely one of the better ones so far.
This was a well-written episode - I like Johnson's style, it seems - though I was not fond of the flashback format ("X hours ago... cut to now... cut to Y hours ago", and so on). A new character is introduced and the Duchess gets some well-deserved screentime. There's a couple of good mood-setting scenes that give us more of Riverside and its inhabitants. Definitely one of the better ones so far.
July 9, 2018
I liked this one. Even with the storyline seemingly to be juggled, by going back and forth but the flow worked, liked how Kaab's character was developed more, the kiss with Tess and definitely will have to take a closer look at the authors other books.
June 15, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this installment!
February 16, 2022
Interesting story bogged down by sub-par writing.
September 24, 2016
Here be spoilers!
I love these!Buying each of these novellas separately isn’t the cheapest way to go; each one is $1.99 for thirteen episodes. I’ll buy season 2 next month for less than $20. I read this on the Kindle.
I love these!Buying each of these novellas separately isn’t the cheapest way to go; each one is $1.99 for thirteen episodes. I’ll buy season 2 next month for less than $20. I read this on the Kindle.
December 2, 2015
The plot thickens
From the chambers of the privileged to the city's lowest slums, the moves and countermoves continue. You'll need to have read the previous episodes to understand who's who and what's what, but believe me it's totally worth it.
From the chambers of the privileged to the city's lowest slums, the moves and countermoves continue. You'll need to have read the previous episodes to understand who's who and what's what, but believe me it's totally worth it.
November 25, 2015
Excellent!
November 30, 2015
1. cameo squee
2. ...am I the only one who thought there was a bit too much swordplay and sexytimes and not quite enough maths and accounting in this one? *slinks off*
2. ...am I the only one who thought there was a bit too much swordplay and sexytimes and not quite enough maths and accounting in this one? *slinks off*
January 7, 2016
These continues to be excellent
February 22, 2016
Much intrigue.
Loving this so much.
Loving this so much.
Read
September 13, 2018Well, this one took less than a day.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews