A Hired Blade: An Everlands Cycle Novella

· BattleWarrior Press
5.0
2 reviews
Ebook
94
Pages
Eligible
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About this ebook

A sellsword’s bargain.

A burgeoning desire.

A future balanced on the point of a blade.

Sellsword Des is travelling alone in a dry and dusty southern land, after a spectacular bust up with her best friend. She’s running low on coin, so when former client Karina offers her a job leading her caravan’s security through brigand country, it feels like a gift.

Des has done the route before, but she isn’t sure about leading solo. She recommends Karina hire Cap, a rugged old mercenary, to head up the crew. Maybe she’ll even learn a thing or two about how to lead, in between the delightful distraction of Karina’s flirtations and keeping the marauders at bay.

As they head off on their long trip across Rescalin, though, the wheels start to come off Des’s plan. The crew is drinking too much, even on duty, and Cap is dismissive of the dangers she identifies. Des worries she’s made the wrong call by putting Cap as the lead, and Karina is in her ear, wanting her to take over.

As brigands close in, will Des back the merc she put in charge? Or will she take over — and risk the caravan’s safety resting on her blade alone?

If you enjoy sapphic fantasy, badass women wielding swords, an Australian-inspired setting, and a sellsword struggling for a place in the world, pick up A Hired Blade today, and join Des on her journey.

Ratings and reviews

5.0
2 reviews
M Scott
April 27, 2023
What a whirlwind of a fantastic story of a novella! Des, a sellsword gets hired to help a caravan get to another town. A sellsword is a professional that has experience in fighting and can use a sword for protecting caravans and such. So Des sells her services to a caravan and it's a telling adventure before The Blood-Born Dragon. As we read, we're able to meet Liza, her horse and how much Liza loves Des. There's a deep connection between the two. We even learn why Des becomes a sellsword. JC paints an awesome world that is vividly painted in the minds eye. What a journey and what an ending! After finishing this novella I went looking for more. Where The Hired Blade ends, The Blood-Born Dragon begins. Start your journey!
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mardie lowe
April 28, 2023
A Hired Blade is a gripping introduction to the world of the Everlands trilogy. Des is a sellsword hired by a friend to get her caravan of trade goods safely through a notorious stretch of road. Des' strict code of conduct leaves her floundering when her attraction to her friend clashes with her perceived place in the chain of command. JC Rycroft has created a pared back, Australian-inspired world and filled it with an array of fascinating characters. If you like flaws in your MC's, storylines with action, humour and some sapphic spice plus the promise of dragons in the books to come, then I highly recommend A Hired Blade.
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About the author

JC Rycroft is an emerging author of fantasy novels, living and writing on Wadawurrung Country in Australia. Their work draws on high and epic fantasy tropes, mixed with a dollop of queer romance, humour and wit, flawed but fabulous feminist heroes and diverse-in-all-the-ways characters, liberally sprinkled with philosophical concepts brought to life. She loves bringing together the apparent contradictions: high theory and silly humour, profound theoretical concerns with a rollicking good story, and ordinary people with unexpected demands to heroism that somehow only they can answer.

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