It's beautifully written, breezy, quick, hysterically funny, poignant and bloody and world-weary and heartrendingly naive by turns. This is a fantastic book, a coming-of-age story, and I love it with a quite deep and unreasonable love - Elizabeth BearOne of the most gorgeous books I've ever read: it's witty and wonderful, with characters that will provoke, charm and delight - Holly BlackA magical mixture of Dumas and Georgette Heyer. The dialogue dazzles and so does the swordplay - Kelly LinkUnholy fun, and wholly fun . . . an elegant riposte, dazzlingly executed - Gregory Maguire