He combines social engineering, economic trickery, and coldhearted pseudoscientific theories to weave a compelling, utterly surprising narrative that keeps readers guessing until the end. Dickinson's worldbuilding is ambitious and his language deviously subtle both are seductive in their complexity. 'Dickinson's debut, the start of a trilogy set in an impressively well-crafted fantasy world, is assured and impressive.Readers will share every one of Baru's strong, suppressed emotions. We've only seen a fraction of the world of the Masquerade and a glimpse of Baru's plans, setting the stage for a compelling series.' - Library Journal, starred review The twists and turns our unreliable narrator takes as she pushes the Aurdwynn nobles to rebel reveal her goals yet also expose her loneliness. 'This is an accomplished debut, with a heroine whose motives are murky, seemingly even to herself. A highly impressive debut that engages intellectually.' - Kirkus Reviews The world of Baru Cormorant is alien in many ways: Seth Dickinson plays with our convention of gender and race, twisting our norms and messing with our expectations. 'Dickinson's dense, chewy, deftly orchestrated narrative cleverly exploits fiat money and debt as tools of statecraft. The Traitor Baru Cormorant is a weird beast, hiding under the pretence of fantasy but containing only enough tropes to maintain its cover. Perfect for those who thrive on fantasy with Machiavellian overtones, this labyrinthine story starts off a wee bit slow but soon enough sets you on the path toward a high-stakes clash you're almost afraid to reach.' - Omnivoracious There is so much to admire and so much to mourn throughout the building tragedy of this novel.A crucial, necessary book - a book that looks unflinchingly into the self-replicating virus of empire, asks the hardest questions, and dares to answer them.' - NPR.org

I found it impossible not to root for her even amid horrors of her making, to grieve with her and for her at various points, to clench my fists in her defense and in desperate need for her to stay whole. 'Literally breathtaking.Baru Cormorant as a character is magnificent. 'A fascinating tale of political intrigue and national unrest.' - The Washington Post

The traitor baru cormorant