A SCARLET THREAD by A. S. Bondi
Medieval Córdoba is the jewel of Al-Andalus, a thriving, interfaith city that once ruled an empire. But while men govern Córdoba in the daylight, magical female assassins known as “Sisters” roam the night, controlling the city in the shadows.
Sabah has spent two years guarding a local brothel to prove her worth to the Sisters. Raised on the edge of poverty in Córdoba’s Jewish quarter, she can hardly believe her luck when the Sisters accept her into their ranks and assign her to the palace as their spy. She soon uncovers a conspiracy against the city within its own walls, a mysterious brotherhood that wants to topple Córdoba’s Muslim ruler and burn the Judería—her childhood home—to the ground.
Sabah assassinates one of the ringleaders, hoping to cut the head off the snake. But her plan backfires, and instead of weakening her enemies, she creates a martyr for their cause. As anger at the man’s death explodes into violence, Sabah must choose between following the Sisters’ strict, secretive code or protecting her family—and no one who disobeys the Sisterhood lives to tell about it.
Spinning Silver meets Assassin’s Creed in A SCARLET THREAD, a 100,000-word adult historical fantasy with series potential that will appeal to fans of Rati Mehrotra’s Markswoman (Asiana series) and Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season.
Bio: I have a medieval studies Ph.D. and recently co-authored a book on medieval history and right-wing extremism (as Amy S. Kaufman).
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