First published 2006
Katherine arrives at her uncle's house expecting luxury and refinement. Instead, she finds herself thrust into an unprecedented role. Her uncle has decided she will master the sword, becoming something the world has never seen before: a woman trained in the deadly art of dueling. Katherine must navigate this shocking transformation while adjusting to a life far different from her expectations. The story follows her journey from sheltered young woman to skilled fighter, exploring what it means to break social conventions and forge a new path. Set in Kushner's richly detailed world, Katherine's tale combines sharp wit with authentic period atmosphere as she grapples with her uncle's radical vision for her future.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, gender-subversion, social-transformation
Period: 19th-Century
376 pages · Hardcover · Small Beer Press