A Sword Named Sorrow

by Kara Dalkey

Author of the acclaimed fantasy novel "Little Sister", Kara Dalkey has created a new, epic historical fantasy novel that takes us on a harrowing journey through heart-breaking discoveries in a haunted, mysterious land.

Raised in a convent and betrayed by those who were meant to protect her, Coraza’s life has never been easy. But things go from bad to worse when she learns her father, Erculeo Salamago, a sorcerous swordsmith, has vanished.

Her only hope at a life beyond the desiccating wall of her prison is to trust a young man she just met named Filipo, and flee into the night with the only piece of her father she has left. A sword named Sorrow.

Travelling the countryside together in search of the truth, they quickly learn the world they live in is a dangerous one. While evading the holy servants of the Mariana church, and battling demons called tzinn, they are pulled into a war of forbidden magics, one in which Coraza and Filipo must risk their lives to discover their destiny, save their county and each other.

Genres: Fantasy

334 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2021

About the author

Kara Mia Dalkey is an American author of young adult fiction and historical fantasy. She was born in Los Angeles and has lived in Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Colorado, and Seattle. Much of her fiction is set in the Heian period of Japan.

She was married to author John Barnes; they divorced in 2001. She is a member of the Pre-Joycean Fellowship and of the Scribblies. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Marketing in Los Angeles.

She is also a musician and has gigged extensively on electric bass (which she plays left-handed) and harmony vocals, with such bands as Runestone, the Albany Free Traders, and Nate Bucklin and the Ensemble (in Minnesota) and Relic and Voodoo Blue (in Seattle.) At different times she has also played drums, banjo and acoustic guitar. She is a songwriter, but her total output is low, and consequently no CD or other album is presently in the works.

Reviews

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note 4,5/5.


🌌💜♥️⚔🗡 VERY NICE DISCOVERY

1843, North America :

Filipo del Utherio, 17, walks into the hostel and settles in a secluded corner.
He comes looking for information.

Elsewhere, 16-year-old Coraza Salamago and her comrades are in the middle of a horse riding lesson...

-------------

I was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful writing style of the author, and by this very mysterious, pleasant and easy to read story, plus a fascinating background plot !

I got a good glimpse of an original but also dangerous magical world.
The two young main characters, Coraza and Filipo are well chosen and very interesting to follow.

- who is Coraza really ?
- what are her powers ?
- what is the role of the magic sword ?
And many more questions...

I recommend to fans of original Fantasy. 💜

[Rachael Boucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if everything you thought you knew about yourself was a lie? Coraza’s been raised “very loose term” in an orphanage, separated as much as possible from the other kids, and her future prospects weren’t looking much better than her past. You’d think a brush with death and parting gift from the dead father she never met would spice up her existence and it does, but she’s gone from having a tragic life to one fraught with danger.

I loved this book. So many different elements wound together, the latinx culture, the supernatural beings and magic, and the unravelling secrets surrounding Coraza’s parentage and her hidden gifts. Coraza is the star throughout, but it’s hard not to fall in love with the other characters, even those who don’t turn out to be who you thought. Swords and magic have their place, but it’s the tzinn who have the true power in this world. Eagerly awaiting more books in this series!

[Craig L Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story a lot. Dalkey's style kept me reading and I loved the unique incorporation of magic. Setting the story in the past, the world came alive with characters, culture and a strong undercurrent of elemental magic and all powerful entities.

[Derek Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an excellent story. I don’t typically read fantasy novels, but I was pulled into this one from the beginning and enjoyed it till the end. The story takes place in the colony of Alta Califia, in what we would know as California. In an alternate history of Earth, humans possess magical skills in varying degrees and demons roam the land. A young girl named Coraza embarks on a journey with her new companions to uncover her mysterious past. Meanwhile, the fate of the colony is in jeopardy as a dangerous enemy threatens war.

The world Dalkey creates is familiar at times yet so uniquely rich and foreign. She writes with such detail and ease and makes our journey as the reader immensely satisfying. It’s a story of self-discovery and heroism with plenty of action, suspense, and even some romance. It’s an adventure worth taking.

[Scott Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up at my favorite bookstore (Dreamhaven, in Minneapolis), somewhat randomly, and was DELIGHTED with how good it was! Characters I watched developing and learning, a setting that was both familiar and strange, in all the right ways. Admittedly it may help that some of the action takes place at Rancho La Brea - which is basically where my house is in our universe.

A true page turner, I ignored other books, TV, video games - pretty much all other distractions - once I got into it. Seems to be a standalone novel, but I'd love it if Dalkey returned to this world.

[Doreen Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well woven plot by Kara Dalkey which was difficult to put down. The author depicts the anguish of Coraza, whose parents have entrusted her to the care of the nuns and her escape when she learns that her life is in danger. Why would anyone want to kill her? What secrets are they hiding about her origin? Can she trust her father's apprentice who has helped in her escape? I enjoyed the intricacies and surprises in this book

[Laura 0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent alternative Spanish Western fantasy YA book. Interesting characters including Coraza, a smart, sympathetic heroine, an interesting hero or two, and opponents both bureaucratic and supernatural.

[bookbreaks_n_hottakes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid read if a little disappointing. I enjoyed the setting of a reimagined california missions timeline, but I did feel lost a few time by the use of a form of Spanish. I felt I needed to brush up on my history. This book does not have a traditional happy ending, which is not typically the kind of novels I enjoy. The characters are almost relatable but not the “cry when they die” type relatable.

Do I regret reading the book? No.

Will I re-read it or any sequels? Probably not.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily