A Crown For Cold Silver by Alex Marshall
Reviewed by: Carey Gibbons, Reference Assistant
Genre: Fantasy
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: Twenty years ago, Cold Cobalt Zosia had done it all. She trapped demons, killed kings, and conquered kingdoms. She and her henchmen, the Five Villains, were the terror of the known world. But Zosia was a better general than she was a queen. Zosia and her villains went into retirement after there was nothing left to fight, and for twenty years, both the land and Zosia knew relative peace. Then one day, a regiment is sent to slaughter the entire village where Zosia has made her home. She doesn’t know why, but she’s sure this is the work of the Crimson Queen and Zosia is going to get revenge. But she needs help and she knows the Five Villains are still out there. So Zosia sets out to find them with her demon dog, Choplicker. It’s time to get the old gang back together, and this time they’re not messing around.
My review: I liked this book a lot. The point of view shifts from chapter to chapter but Zosia is still the main character. As a middle aged, female war lord, she’s quite unique. This book smashes a lot of gender, sexuality, and age stereotypes. Half of the characters are probably in their early 50s. Many are openly homosexual, bisexual, asexual, and/or gender queer and Marshall does a good job of not making that the point of the narrative. Marshall, whose name is a pseudonym, makes it very clear that the point of this story is the price of revenge – bloody revenge with pointy, stabby weaponry. Zosia isn’t the only one with a literal ax to grind though – everyone is out for someone else. This is a slow moving narrative but a story this broad and epic needs the time and space of more than 600 pages and sinking into it isn’t difficult. There are times when the narrative gets a little repetitive, and I really wish Marshall had included a map. But this is a great book, especially for those waiting on the next volume of A Song of ice and Fire.
Rating: 4/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!