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The Privilege of the Sword

by Ellen Kushner · 2006

From the award-winning author of Swordspoint comes a witty, wicked coming-of-age story that is both edgy and timeless. . . .  Welcome to Riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power and prestige in… more

7 quotes ★ 3.93 (5,477) Fantasy

Quotes from the Book

He said, 'They're only whores,' as though their very availability rendered them worthless.
12
although he was at core a rotten being, no one could fault him for style.
6
I let the insults go by. A good swordsman doesn't pay attention to words in a fight.
4
Maybe someone would write a play just for me, one where a real woman could fight with her sword, and had many fine adventures and changes of costume.
3
Have you seen Marcus?" he asked his ugly friend. "Yes, he was stoping some people in the Violet Room from climbing the curtains." "What for?" "They were not professionals." "Oh.
2
I do not make the rules [. . .] This annoys me, and so I comfort myself by breaking them
1
I could make it not matter.

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About Ellen Kushner

We have collected 13 quotes from 2 books by Ellen Kushner on BookQuoters.

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About the book

From the award-winning author of Swordspoint comes a witty, wicked coming-of-age story that is both edgy and timeless. . . .

Welcome to Riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power and prestige in the city’s labyrinth of streets and ballrooms, theatres and brothels, boudoirs and salons. Into this alluring and alarming world walks a bright young woman ready to take it on and make her fortune. A well-bred country girl, Katherine knows all the rules of conventional society. Her biggest mistake is thinking they apply.

Katherine’s host and uncle, Alec Campion, the capricious and decadent Mad Duke Tremontaine, is in charge here—and to him, rules are made to be broken. When he decides it would be far more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to ballroom and husband, her world changes forever. And there’s no going back. Blade in hand,

Book details

First published
2006
Genre
Fantasy
Goodreads rating
3.93 (5k ratings)

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