About the Book
Across the ineffable expanse of the Great Deep float billions of shattered universes: the Shards. Populated with vengeful demons and tormented humans, the Shards need Earth to survive just as plants need water. Earth itself is kept alive by 36 righteous people, 36 hidden saints known as the Lamed Vav. Kill but a few of the Lamed Vav and the Earth will shatter, and all the Shards that rely upon it will die in a horrible cataclysm.
When Daniel Fisher is abducted on his wedding day by the demon king, Ashmedai, he learns he is a Lamed Vav, one of the hidden righteous upholding the world. The demon Mashit has usurped the throne of demonkind from Ashmedai and has been systematically murdering the Lamed Vav. On a desert-covered Shard teeming with strange creatures, pursued by a fearsome demon army, Daniel and Ashmedai, saint and demon, must join forces to stop Mashit before she destroys all of existence. Daniel's survival means he must ally with evil Ashmedai. Yet who but a sainta Lamed Vavcan save the world?"
About the Author :
Matthew Kressel is a Nebula Award-nominated writer and World Fantasy Award-nominated editor living in Ridgewood, NY. King of Shards is his first novel.
Review :
"Kressel draws heavily on Hebrew legend and biblical lore to build a robustly imagined fantasy world modeled on Gehenna . . . His skill at extrapolating traditional religious lore into the stuff of fantasy bodes well for future books in the series."
Publishers' Weekly
"A unique fantasy cosmos."
Huffington Post
"In every way a classic fantasy . . . with surprising twists and a deep and detailed universe."
Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy blog
"The metaphysics of King of Shards are vast and staggeringly complex, a feast for hardcore fantasy fans.'
NPR
"A surreal and exotic adventure in a unique mythological setting. Scary, exhilarating fun!"
N.K. Jemisin, award-winning author of The Inheritance Trilogy, the Dreamblood series, and The Fifth Season
"A gripping trek across a unique desert world rich with Kabbalah-inspired magic and vivid demons builds to a whirlwind climax. Daniel, taken from our world, and Rana, uprooted from her life on hers, grapple with the power of their destinies, and its danger, to both our world and the entire cosmos."
Scott H. Andrews, World Fantasy Award-nominated editor of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Magazine
"This is a world where the mysticism of The Kabbalah and Torah begin to seem like everyday commentary, where ordinary people attempt to live their lives despite the extraordinary turmoil of unending conspiracy, secret saints, scheming demons, and shattered universes. This novel shakes the foundations of everyday reality, and the ensuing chaos is pure pleasure."
Christopher Barzak, author of One for Sorrow and Wonders of the Invisible World
"Matthew Kressel's King of Shards is an imaginative, intelligent, and soaring debut that mixes Jewish folklore/mysticism and modern-day social politics. The result is a unique spin on epic fantasy that is both timeless and timely, and a hell of lot of fun. You'll want to follow Daniel and Rana through the Shards. Trust me."
Paul Tremblay, author of A Head Full of Ghosts and The Little Sleep
"With King of Shards, Kressel threads portal adventure through ancient mythos. His demons and demi-gods and his very human (or mostly human) characters have to work their way through the terrifying, violent, and often beautiful alternate planes he's built using his incredible imagination and traditional and Apocryphal knowledge as a tableau. You will emerge transformed."
Fran Wilde, author of Updraft
"Kressel's rich landscapes sing with ancient resonance by the light of modern flair. He weaves compelling tradition with innovative high Fantasy; culture and creativity become foundations for new myths featuring heroes built to shine."
Leanna Renee Hieber, award-winning author of the Strangely Beautiful saga"
"A surreal and exotic adventure in a unique mythological setting. Scary, exhilarating fun!"
N.K. Jemisin, award-winning author of "The Inheritance Trilogy," the "Dreamblood" series, and "The Fifth Season"
"A gripping trek across a unique desert world rich with Kabbalah-inspired magic and vivid demons builds to a whirlwind climax. Daniel, taken from our world, and Rana, uprooted from her life on hers, grapple with the power of their destinies, and its danger, to both our world and the entire cosmos."
Scott H. Andrews, World Fantasy Award-nominated editor of "Beneath Ceaseless Skies Magazine"
"This is a world where the mysticism of The Kabbalah and Torah begin to seem like everyday commentary, where ordinary people attempt to live their lives despite the extraordinary turmoil of unending conspiracy, secret saints, scheming demons, and shattered universes. This novel shakes the foundations of everyday reality, and the ensuing chaos is pure pleasure."
Christopher Barzak, author of "One for Sorrow" and "Wonders of the Invisible World"
"Matthew Kressel's King of Shards is an imaginative, intelligent, and soaring debut that mixes Jewish folklore/mysticism and modern-day social politics. The result is a unique spin on epic fantasy that is both timeless and timely, and a hell of lot of fun. You'll want to follow Daniel and Rana through the Shards. Trust me."
Paul Tremblay, author of "A Head Full of Ghosts" and "The Little Sleep"
"With King of Shards, Kressel threads portal adventure through ancient mythos. His demons and demi-gods and his very human (or mostly human) characters have to work their way through the terrifying, violent, and often beautiful alternate planes he's built using his incredible imagination and traditional and Apocryphal knowledge as a tableau. You will emerge transformed."
Fran Wilde, author of "Updraft"
"Kressel's rich landscapes sing with ancient resonance by the light of modern flair. He weaves compelling tradition with innovative high Fantasy; culture and creativity become foundations for new myths featuring heroes built to shine."
Leanna Renee Hieber, award-winning author of the "Strangely Beautiful" saga
"
"This is a world where the mysticism of The Kabbalah and Torah begin to seem like everyday commentary, where ordinary people attempt to live their lives despite the extraordinary turmoil of unending conspiracy, secret saints, scheming demons, and shattered universes. This novel shakes the foundations of everyday reality, and the ensuing chaos is pure pleasure."
Christopher Barzak, author of "One for Sorrow" and "Wonders of the Invisible World"
"Matthew Kressel's King of Shards is an imaginative, intelligent, and soaring debut that mixes Jewish folklore/mysticism and modern-day social politics. The result is a unique spin on epic fantasy that is both timeless and timely, and a hell of lot of fun. You'll want to follow Daniel and Rana through the Shards. Trust me."
Paul Tremblay, author of "A Head Full of Ghosts" and "The Little Sleep"
"With King of Shards, Kressel threads portal adventure through ancient mythos. His demons and demi-gods and his very human (or mostly human) characters have to work their way through the terrifying, violent, and often beautiful alternate planes he's built using his incredible imagination and traditional and Apocryphal knowledge as a tableau. You will emerge transformed."
Fran Wilde, author of "Updraft"
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