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Skullsworn  By  cover art

Skullsworn

By: Brian Staveley
Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden
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Publisher's summary

Brian Staveley's new standalone returns to the critically acclaimed Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne universe, following a priestess-assassin for the God of Death

From the award-winning epic fantasy world of The Emperor's Blades...

Pyrre Lakatur is not, to her mind, an assassin, not a murderer - she is a priestess. At least, she will be once she passes her final trial.

The problem isn't the killing. The problem, rather, is love. For to complete her trial, Pyrre has ten days to kill the seven people enumerated in an ancient song, including "the one who made your mind and body sing with love / who will not come again."

Pyrre isn't sure she's ever been in love. And if she fails to find someone who can draw such passion from her, or fails to kill that someone, her order will give her to their god, the God of Death. Pyrre's not afraid to die, but she hates to fail, and so, as her trial is set to begin, she returns to the city of her birth in the hope of finding love... and ending it on the edge of her sword.

©2017 Brian Staveley (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Brilliant." (V. E. Schwab, New York Times bestselling author)

What listeners say about Skullsworn

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Couldn't finish it

It was an interesting book with some truly well written areas to it, but overall I found myself just didn't care enough to finish it. It was neither convincing that the protagonist would be so desperately searching to find love in order to sacrifice him to her god, nor was there anything that I was rooting for. The conclusion seemed inevitable and I found that I just didn't care enough about he journey getting there to be worth my time.

I listen to a lot of books and this may be the first time that I've chosen to stop listening to a story with only two hours left.


If you weren't able to finish the unhewn thrown series, defeat nicely don't tread this on.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Another amazing story by Brian Staveley

I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Staveley's first trilogy and this book provides solid proof that his works are only going to get better and better. If you read/listened to The Unhewn Throne Trilogy then you'll remember Pyrre Lakatur, the somewhat mysterious and very deadly priestess of the God of Death. This book delves into her background and gives more insight into what it means to be one of the Skullsworn. This is the first time I've listened to Elizabeth Knowelden's narration and I was very impressed with her as well. I don't give 5 stars often and usually never for all three categories but it's well deserved in this case.

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10 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Homerun

If you could sum up Skullsworn in three words, what would they be?

This book serves as a prequel of sorts to Staveley's Unhewn Throne trilogy. Story is crisp and enjoyable, and it provides some additional depth to this fantasy world. I wasn't particularly fond of this character in the original trilogy, but the additional character development in this book has massively elevated her in my view. Quite a good book, and it could stand alone if you haven't read the other books. But you should read those as well, because they're amazing.

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5 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Read Something Else

This book is not at the same level as the others. I would skip it really wish it would have went somewhere due to the world the other books made.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wow. Just wow.

Great story told through a great narrator. Her voice is exactly what I pictured for her character. The author was able to keep me guessing what would happen next even though the epilogue. Great addition to the series.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic story

Skullsworn was on my to read list from before it was released. Elizabeth Knowelden breathes fantastic, addictive, and beautiful life into one of my favorite characters in fiction. Brain Staveley is a master with words and has created a rich, intriguing, and vivid world you can’t help but fall for. Between this and the Chronicle of the Unhewn thrown, I have found one of my favorite fictional worlds that I will, without a doubt, return to many times before Ananshael unmakes me.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Couldve been Better

What did you love best about Skullsworn?

I liked the development of skullsworn, but it should've shown why they are so feared more and built up that aspect like the flea, how we saw from the last book why he's so feared when he told his story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Skullsworn?

I cant remember any stand out moments in this book. it wasn't like the other 3 which each had something special that stood out in my mind.

What didn’t you like about Elizabeth Knowelden’s performance?

I didn't like her accent and lack of inflection. Her voice is more suited for non fiction which is going to be written in one tone. In this it was hard to follow along because of the tone and lack of changes in her voice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I would say skip this book and make the other three into a movie this needs more development before its ready to go into theater.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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So good it made me rethink my rating system.

I absolutely loved this book. I don’t understand how an author can build such an epic story and cast of characters in such a short book. I love fantasy stories and routinely rate books as four or five stars, but this one was so good it made me think of going back and downgrading all of my previous five star ratings to fours. Also, the narrator is incredible. I hope she continues to perform fantasy audiobooks.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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profoundly dark but beautiful

This is one of the most dark but beautiful stories I've ever read. It's definitely worth a read if you're into darker fiction. This book is a poetic masterpiece.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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A meandering verbosity

Excellent writing however the entire book was a boring philosophical treatise mixed with raw senseless violence. I much prefer Tad Williams or Brandon Sanderson.

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2 people found this helpful