Our Lady of Battles

From the multi-award-winning author of The Briar Book of the Dead, comes an enthralling gothic fairy tale of witches, lady knights, twisted conspiracies and a coveted enchanted throne.

Set in Slatter’s much-loved Sourdough universe, this dark magical fantasy is perfect for fans of The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow and Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher.


Her Grace, the True Princess Emlyn Mentoras, has come home after twenty years. The sole survivor of the slaughtered royal family of Five Ports, her life’s been dedicated to winning back her kingdom from the vicious Woodcutter Kings. Overseen by the Beldame Lanike she’s learned the ways of sword and shield, to rule and also – perhaps surprisingly – to show mercy. Emlyn wants the city to live again, for her people to prosper and, most of all, to follow in the footsteps of her idol, St Callwen, Five Ports’ founder.

But Emlyn’s got a secret that will blow her hard-won existence apart… When the horrors of her past catch up with her, she finds herself on a journey into the underworld with a loyal knight by her side seeking an elusive crown. A deadly quest that will test all her skill and courage and reveal a betrayal at the heart of the kingdom.

A deeply engrossing, richly told dark fantasy of a blighted monarchy, a stolen destiny and a young woman’s difficult search for her own path.
Praise for A.G. Slatter:


"Angela plays by her own rules. She's fantastic"
Hilarie Burton-Morgan, actress and author of Grimoire Girl


“A Forest, Darkly is a lush, blood-wet bramble of a fairytale promising we are each of us so much more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. Given the wicked elegance with which A.G. Slatter traverses the glens of folklore, one can’t help wonder if she might just be a changeling, herself.”
GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot and Fifty Beasts To Break Your Heart


“No one does gothic fairytales like A.G. Slatter. A Forest, Darkly is an atmospheric, slow-burn dream of a novel. Its protagonist, the resilient Mehrab, is a breath of fresh air, a glimmer of light in the dark forest.”
Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart and The Weaver and the Witch Queen


“A Forest, Darkly is a grimly enchanting tale, both inspired and ancient, spun of whispered things... This book is a tall mug of something hot and mulled beside a roaring fire. Be warned—you can drink your fill, but you’ll only crave more.”
Ava Morgyn, USA Today bestselling author of The Bane Witch


"When I reviewed A.G. (Angela) Slatter’s 2022 novel The Path of Thorns, I said she was one of the best contemporary fantasists in the field. But I was wrong; my vision was too narrow. Angela is simply one of the best contemporary writers of fiction, regardless of genre... The Briar Book of the Dead is everything I love about Slatter’s fiction: the craft, the passion for narrative, and the foregrounding of strong, smart, singular women. More, please."
Ian Mond, Locus


“Slatter nestles stories within stories, immersing readers in a richly imagined world, and leading them on a journey full of unexpected twists and turns. This is an expertly woven tale of intrigue, magic, family, and righting old wrongs.”
A.C. Wise, author of Wendy, Darling
A.G. Slatter has won a Shirley Jackson Award, a World Fantasy Award, a British Fantasy Award, a Ditmar, three Australian Shadows Awards, eight Aurealis Awards and a Premier Ignotus. Most recently, All the Murmuring Bones was shortlisted for the 2021 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards Book of the Year and the 2021 Shirley Jackson Award; The Path of Thorns won both the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel and the Australian Shadows Award for Best Novel in 2022; and The Briar Book of the Dead has been shortlisted for both the Aurealis and Australian Shadows Awards for 2024. She has a PhD in Creative Writing, is a graduate of Clarion South and the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop, and has been a judge for the World Fantasy and Aurealis Awards. Angela’s short stories have appeared in many Best Of anthologies, and her work has been translated into many languages. She lives in Brisbane, Australia with a superannuated beagle and a TBR pile which will likely be the death of her. Find her on her website angelaslatter.com and on social media @angelaslatter

About

From the multi-award-winning author of The Briar Book of the Dead, comes an enthralling gothic fairy tale of witches, lady knights, twisted conspiracies and a coveted enchanted throne.

Set in Slatter’s much-loved Sourdough universe, this dark magical fantasy is perfect for fans of The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow and Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher.


Her Grace, the True Princess Emlyn Mentoras, has come home after twenty years. The sole survivor of the slaughtered royal family of Five Ports, her life’s been dedicated to winning back her kingdom from the vicious Woodcutter Kings. Overseen by the Beldame Lanike she’s learned the ways of sword and shield, to rule and also – perhaps surprisingly – to show mercy. Emlyn wants the city to live again, for her people to prosper and, most of all, to follow in the footsteps of her idol, St Callwen, Five Ports’ founder.

But Emlyn’s got a secret that will blow her hard-won existence apart… When the horrors of her past catch up with her, she finds herself on a journey into the underworld with a loyal knight by her side seeking an elusive crown. A deadly quest that will test all her skill and courage and reveal a betrayal at the heart of the kingdom.

A deeply engrossing, richly told dark fantasy of a blighted monarchy, a stolen destiny and a young woman’s difficult search for her own path.

Reviews

Praise for A.G. Slatter:


"Angela plays by her own rules. She's fantastic"
Hilarie Burton-Morgan, actress and author of Grimoire Girl


“A Forest, Darkly is a lush, blood-wet bramble of a fairytale promising we are each of us so much more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. Given the wicked elegance with which A.G. Slatter traverses the glens of folklore, one can’t help wonder if she might just be a changeling, herself.”
GennaRose Nethercott, author of Thistlefoot and Fifty Beasts To Break Your Heart


“No one does gothic fairytales like A.G. Slatter. A Forest, Darkly is an atmospheric, slow-burn dream of a novel. Its protagonist, the resilient Mehrab, is a breath of fresh air, a glimmer of light in the dark forest.”
Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart and The Weaver and the Witch Queen


“A Forest, Darkly is a grimly enchanting tale, both inspired and ancient, spun of whispered things... This book is a tall mug of something hot and mulled beside a roaring fire. Be warned—you can drink your fill, but you’ll only crave more.”
Ava Morgyn, USA Today bestselling author of The Bane Witch


"When I reviewed A.G. (Angela) Slatter’s 2022 novel The Path of Thorns, I said she was one of the best contemporary fantasists in the field. But I was wrong; my vision was too narrow. Angela is simply one of the best contemporary writers of fiction, regardless of genre... The Briar Book of the Dead is everything I love about Slatter’s fiction: the craft, the passion for narrative, and the foregrounding of strong, smart, singular women. More, please."
Ian Mond, Locus


“Slatter nestles stories within stories, immersing readers in a richly imagined world, and leading them on a journey full of unexpected twists and turns. This is an expertly woven tale of intrigue, magic, family, and righting old wrongs.”
A.C. Wise, author of Wendy, Darling

Author

A.G. Slatter has won a Shirley Jackson Award, a World Fantasy Award, a British Fantasy Award, a Ditmar, three Australian Shadows Awards, eight Aurealis Awards and a Premier Ignotus. Most recently, All the Murmuring Bones was shortlisted for the 2021 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards Book of the Year and the 2021 Shirley Jackson Award; The Path of Thorns won both the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel and the Australian Shadows Award for Best Novel in 2022; and The Briar Book of the Dead has been shortlisted for both the Aurealis and Australian Shadows Awards for 2024. She has a PhD in Creative Writing, is a graduate of Clarion South and the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop, and has been a judge for the World Fantasy and Aurealis Awards. Angela’s short stories have appeared in many Best Of anthologies, and her work has been translated into many languages. She lives in Brisbane, Australia with a superannuated beagle and a TBR pile which will likely be the death of her. Find her on her website angelaslatter.com and on social media @angelaslatter
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