The Fireborne Blade

The Fireborne Blade
By Charlotte Bond
Tor Publishing Group, 2024. 167 pages. Fantasy.

Maddileh is a knight. There aren't many women in her line of work, and it often feels like the sneering and contempt from her peers is harder to stomach than the actual dragon slaying. But she's a knight, and made of sterner stuff. A minor infraction forces her to redeem her honor in the most dramatic way possible, she must retrieve the fabled Fireborne Blade from its keeper, legendary dragon the White Lady, or die trying. If history tells us anything, it's that "die trying" is where to wager your coin.

First of all, this book presented a new take on dragon lore, telling stories through snippets of historical documents, which I found delightful.  Secondly, it decenters the stories of men in power in such a way that I didn't even know it was happening until I discussed the book with my father, which is also extremely delightful.  Finally, it had an amazingly executed twist.  To sum it up, if you support women's rights, gay knights, or dragons you'll enjoy this bite-sized exploration of epic fantasy.

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