A. K. Larkwood studied English at St John's College, Cambridge. Since then, she has worked in higher education & media relations, and is now studying law. She lives in Oxford with her wife and a cat. The Unspoken Name is her first novel.
A fun, fresh new take on the traditional fantasy quest and an adventure I couldn't put down! -- S. A. Chakraborty An astounding debut, written with skill and stunning assurance . . . From its flawless first page to its bittersweet last, The Unspoken Name is unlike anything I've read before -- Nicholas Eames The Unspoken Name is the best kind of modern fantasy - it feels totally fresh, it's full of satisfyingly weird gods and frightening magic . . . I loved this book! -- Jen Williams What a glorious book! Richly detailed, enthralling, and extraordinary, with brilliant nods to such luminaries as Ursula K. Le Guin and Diana Wynne Jones . . . Fabulous, in every meaning of the word -- Jenn Lyons The action is fast-paced and emotionally compelling; the magic is dangerous, beautiful, and utterly compromising. I love this book so much -- Arkady Martine An unexpected and new take on classic orcs 'n' swords fantasy. Stylish, classy, and timeless - but with racing stripes and an inbuilt camera. I cannot recommend it enough -- Tamsyn Muir A perfect fantasy debut -- <i>Daily Mail</i> Best SFF of 2020 Takes all the tropes of fantasy - orcs and epic quests, dead gods and undead souls, daring rescues and last-second escapes - and spins them into something wild and new. A dizzy, delicious debut -- Alix E. Harrow A truly wonderful book . . . grabbed my attention on the first page and wouldn't let go. Fresh, exciting and new, with fascinating characters, shifting alliances, impossible odds, breathtaking settings, and shocking twists -- Dyrk Ashton The Unspoken Name has everything - spine-tingling prose, gorgeous worldbuilding, powerful older women, found family (but it's terrible), giant snakes, ancient tombs, dead gods, and true love. It's fantastic. I read it in one sitting -- Emily Tesh Larkwood's debut is a fresh, fun take on the genre, packed with smart prose, badass characters, and fantastic worldbuilding. A necessary addition for any fantasy lover's collection -- Tara Sim A breathtaking journey. It's epic fantasy with both creeping, omnipresent horrors and yet a tenacious, delicate warmth -- K. A. Doore I really enjoyed this - crisp, witty and entertaining. Such fun and it distracted me from my work far too well! I'd love to read more from the author -- Genevieve Cogman An age-old feud between wizards and gods plays out with steel-crunching, bloody-tusk action. Loved every page -- Brian Naslund Expansive, immersive, and just plain fun, each page unfolds another facet of Larkwood's brilliant maze of a world. Populated by incredible characters and their eldritch deities, this has everything I love in fantasy taken to the next level -- Emily Duncan An imaginative story of love, sacrifice, and betrayal that traverses worlds in this phenomenal debut . . . . Lyrical, immersive prose masterfully conveys complex worldbuilding. Epic fantasy fans are sure to be impressed by this expertly crafted adventure -- <i>Publishers Weekly </i>starred review