Swordspoint: A Melodrama Of Manners

Considering the theatrical title of the book, this is a light and easy to read fantasy that manages to be equal parts refreshing and enchanting.Why it made this listWe love fantasy because it gives us a chance to immerse ourselves in a different world to our own. Sometimes it's not a better world. Would you like to live in Westeros? But fantasy authors can – if they decide to – create a world that's better than ours. When they're able to imagine somewhere that's free of some of the most entrenched issues in our society – racism, homophobia and sexism – they take the audience for a ride; one where we can see how our own reality could be better. And Kushner has used Swordspoint to do this.Don't panic yet! This isn't a deep read – it doesn't require you to examine the world around you too intensely, but the inclusion of bisexual characters does propose an alternate reality where some form of equality has evolved beyond that of our society.It's not necessary to delve into those depths, though. This is a book about a master swordsman – complete with well-planned episodes of swashbuckling and lots of stabby action. Kushner is never over the top, her writing is precise and the pace of the action is perfect, making it easy to read and even easier to enjoy.