In February , io9 sharedan extract from That Self - Same Metal , the debut phantasy novelfrom Brittany N. Williams — who drew upon her screen background as a classically trained actor to weave itsShakespeareantale . Things are even more touch-and-go for her unambiguously talented alloy - work heroine in the continuation , as this exclusive peep at Saint - Seducing Gold will reveal .
Here ’s a sum-up of Saint - Seducing Gold :
There ’s danger in the royal court of James I. Magical alloy - worker Joan Sands must reforge the Pact between humanness and the Fae to hold back the looming war . As violence erupts across London and the murderous spymaster Robert Cecil close in , the Fae queen Titanea coerces Joan into joining the imperial court while holding her godfather prisoner in the infamous Tower of London . Now Joan will have to live deadly machination both magical and mortal all while balancing the magnetised drag of her two loves — Rose and Nick — before the world as she know it is destroyed constantly .
Image: Amulet Books
“ It ’s incredibly difficult to write a second novel because the stakes escalate when it ’s a subsequence , ” author Williams explained in a statement provided to io9 . “ You have a crew of readers who you love and you want to top their expectation . I ’m a stronger author now than when I wreak on That Self - Same Metal so meeting that challenge has been more fun than daunting . Joan ’s struggles are worse in this book , so I think she ’d disagree . You ’ll see in this excerpt that she ’s not done fighting for her lifetime and the tactics she used to live Auberon wo n’t necessarily avail her here . Exciting news for readers , terrible times for Joan . ”
Williams continued . “ Working on this book was such an risky venture . I spent almost all of my workplace time immersed in Shakespeare . I was represent Hotspur in Henry IV , Part 1 while I was compose the first draft then I was edit as I point A Midsummer Night ’s Dream then perform as Olivia in Twelfth Night . It was trippy and overwhelming to be surrounded by the bard from so many angle but it was also double-dyed timing . There ’s a particular view that was totally inspired — and written during — my rehearsal . I question if readers will blob it . ”
Check out the full covering fire — the book design is by Chelsea Hunter — followed by an exciting excerpt ( two wrangle : goblin fight ! ) from Saint - Seducing Gold .
Image: Amulet Books
Chapter 9 : Choke Their Art
Joan ’s begetter finally bring together them in the sitting way , the shadow of guilt surrounding him a palpable thing . She ’d seen James clasp his hand as they looked over a page together .
She hat for her father to blame himself when she ’d been the reason Robert Cecil had invaded their home double now . She wished she could return the insults and threats he ’d lobbed at her folk but she doubt even one of the pansy ’s dame could maintain such tycoon .
Her mother flitted between them all , noting who among their list was also a child of Elegua .
She pause , hand scrunch the theme she contain . “ We should have deal this with everyone in November , ” she say dead .
“ Mother . ” Joan touch her mother ’s radiocarpal joint . “ We cerebrate there was no need because the terror was gone . But we can tell them now . ”
Her female parent nodded and unclenched her fist . Her expression remained tense but Joan accepted her small victory .
Despite the glum cloud of fear and shame that loomed over them , the mob ’s plan came together rapidly after the secretary of state ’s departure . Avalee , James , and her parents would warn their community of both Cecil ’s steal cognition and the escalating Fae threat using her mother ’s doorways . Unlike Ogun , Elegua had spread his blessings to many within the urban center . Once word reach his nestling , they ’d be able-bodied to pass it along using their threshold magic to move more fleetly than the wind .
Joan ’s purpose was to retrieve her godfather ’s Ogun pot from his workshop . She ’d quickly pop the question to take the air in rescript to reserve her mother ’s abilities for their message — though her suggestion obligate another purpose .
She feared what she ’d recover at Baba ’s shop since he had been arrested two months ago . She was n’t disposed to transport instantly into the wreckage of his life . The long walkway would allow her to yoke for whatever she found . She rounded the quoin of his street . His compound home and tailor ’s shop came into view . An open sign hung in the doorway ’s windowpane and a warm spark spilled out from behind the curtains . Something in her chest unclenched at the spate . veneration had restrain her from coming to this position . The mentation of the home her godfather maintain with such a fastidious middle for contingent and cleanliness being left desert and in confusedness had fill her with dread . Seeing it damage would have made his absence so much more substantial . That possible action had chase after her step even now , and she ’d hesitated as she ’d wrick onto his street .
But everything was as it would have been if Baba had been there , and she experience she had Pearl to thank for that . Joan cautiously open up the front door , the Melville Bell above it cheerily announcing her arrival with a jangle .
“ One here and now , please , ” a husky voice called out from behind a curtain that Joan be intimate led back into Baba Ben ’s main workspace . Soon after , a woman , hunch with age , stepped into the main room . She had cryptical brown peel and complete ashen hair neatly braided and pin around her headland , and her entire being shone with the glow that denounce her as one of the Fae .
“ Ah , Joan . ” Her eyes softened . “ I ’ve been hoping you ’d come sojourn . ” She retain her implements of war out , and Joan angle into her fond embrace .
Joan let herself enjoy Pearl ’s hug for a longsighted moment before get out aside . “ They have n’t seek to hold you too , have they ? ”
“ Oh , they have , child , but every metre they ’re here , I get them so wrick around they leave what they ’ve come in to do . ” Pearl snort out a jape .
Joan grinned back at her . She should ’ve cognise Pearl would habituate every snatch of Fae magic she live to keep Baba ’s plate dependable in his absence seizure . The love those two shared was as recondite as any bond between mother and son . Joan wonder if this was the first time they had ever been aside . The thought broke her heart even more .
“ I take to retrieve Baba ’s . . . ” Joan pause , reconsidering her words .
She cognize Pearl would never designedly deceive Baba but Titanea might not give the sometime Fae charwoman a selection .
“ I need to retrieve something , ” she say but .
Pearl nod , her regard express her understanding . She glanced at the threshold to the workshop before undulate Joan back toward it . “ Go receive what you ’re looking for . ”
Joan heard the creak of the knob behind her and rushed through the drapery into the back room just as the bell denote a client .
“ Good Clarence Day , ma’am , ” Pearl suppose . “ How can I help ? ”
Joan miss the rest of the conversation as she strike through her godfather ’s workshop . Candles elucidate the large space bright , a necessity for the delicate graphics stitching , cutting , and embroidering . That Pearl celebrate it so well lit in Baba ’s absence warmed Joan ’s heart and pained her in equal beat . A massive mirror trim in intricate swirls and winding of Ag and Au leaned against one wall . Joan ran her finger across the alloy as she pass it and felt it sing to her gently . The Sandses had gift the piece to Baba Ben two old age ago ; Joan ’s father had even let her do most of the metal detailing along it . She ’d fashioned and refashioned the swirl of Ben ’s name that ran along its top about seven times before she was even mildly quenched .
But the work had been worth it for the joyful look on Ben ’s look when they ’d delivered it . Her chest feel tight , and she forced herself to keep move .
She needed to be spry with her task . She careen around his recollective worktable , covered in fabric and unfinished garment and organise in a light H physique . Her skirts , too wide to go easily , knocked a bolt of gold velvet to the floor . Joan cursed and knelt to pick it up .
“ You ’ll find oneself nothing here ! Leave this piazza . ” Pearl ’s raging vocalism carried into the shop .
Joan felt the passion of Ogun ’s presence blaze out to life in her thorax as Pearl ’s body came fly through the drapery . She slam into one of the table , rolling across its top and drop to the base with a grunt . Her mannikin shimmered and shrank , her face becoming wider and rounder as the tips of her spike elongated into acuate points . She interlock all of a sudden emerald eyes — their genuine color — with Joan , who still crouched behind another worktable .
“ go — that goblin does n’t acknowledge you ’re back here , ” Pearl whispered as the curtain was ripped away from the door .
Joan glanced up as another unretentive form pace into the doorway , the top of its head barely clearing the height of the tables .
The beast reposition into the light , let out wan down in the mouth cutis stretched over a wiry inning and a head like a large anuran with bulbous eye perched on top . “ Your misplaced trueness is disgusting , ” it sneered in a flutelike voice .
“ Leave this place , ” Pearl said , fight herself up to her feet . “ You ’ll find nothing you assay here . ” She gave Joan a pointed look before she move out of sight .
The animal express joy like the clanging of bells . “ I followed the girl here . You ’d die to protect a mortal ? ”
There was the skittering of foot on the hurry - strewn base and Pearl disappeared entirely from Joan ’s sight . Pearl shrieked . cloth tumbled to the floor as the goblin slammed her down on one of the table . Something squelched and Pearl cry out out again .
Joan flicked her wrist . Bia launched from her arm , enlarging to full size . She snatch the blade from the melody as she leapt to her feet . “ Get out of my godfather ’s store . ”
The hobgoblin looked up from where it crouched half atop Pearl and sneered at Joan .
“ Release Pearl and give this billet , as she said . ” Joan send atomic number 26 flowing from her fingertip and down along the blade . She stepped closer , touching the acute boundary against the tool ’s cervix . “ The next point I urge wo n’t be with Logos . ”
She doubted this Fae would still want to contend when Joan already held it at such a disadvantage . If the fauna surrendered and rent them be , Joan would n’t follow after it .
The goblin ’s regard switch along the brand then then lock on Joan . A long tongue shot out , try out the air as the rest of its head turned to come . It was much smaller than Joan , its frame lean and stringy , but something about the fauna —
It batted Joan ’s steel away and dove for her . Joan stumble back as the impossibly heavy weightiness of the creature ram into her chest . The goblin ’s farsighted fingers adulterate toward Joan ’s pharynx . Joan parry them , flipping Bia to slice across its arms . It list back and Bia thin out through empty air . The animal wrapped its legs around Joan ’s waistline , throwing its weightiness backward and cast aside her across the room .
Joan slam against the opposite wall . Something popped in her shoulder , the sudden pain shatter her focussing .
“ Joan ! ” Pearl called .
She looked up and elevate her forearm , coat it in iron just as the goblin claw at her face . Its hand caught Joan ’s metal - covered wrist . The scent of burnt flesh fill the airwave . She duck her head to the side as the goblin ’s other claw scratch up along her temple . Joan flinched but send iron over her palm . She grabbed the creature ’s radiocarpal joint , its pelt scorching beneath her touch . The horrid stench intensified , but Joan tightened her grip as the goblin skreak and thrashed . Grunting , she hurled it across the way with all her durability .
Joan agitate herself upright , panting and gasp , but the goblin was on her again . They both tumble backward and slam against Baba Ben ’s enormous mirror . The chalk shatter . Shards rained down over them as they grappled . Joan lost her handgrip on Bia and the sword clattered across the level .
The goblin ’s manpower seemed to be everywhere at once , its speed incredible . It was all Joan could do to bat each smash forth and keep her wound shallow . Bia was too far forth to grab , but if she could get a hired man against the mirror ’s metallic element frame , she could run this beast through . She stretched her fingers toward one side , just pass the cool sword before she had to block another smash . She stretch for it again and felt the slightest thrill as she come nearer the edge of the frame .
She could n’t trust to manipulate the metal without touch it , but she still strained for it . Joan felt something inside her snap taut then dilute just that little bit far . Her headspring ache with the pressure of it , but she feel if she just press a little harder , something would happen .
Suddenly , a tiny shaving of the alloy mirror flutter and reached back toward her . It wrapped around her fingertip as warmth built in Joan ’s dresser .
The goblin claw at Joan ’s pharynx . She grabbed its wrist again to stop the creature from ripping her whole cervix undefended . The warmth vanish as Joan lost her focus and the mirror went back to normal . All at once she felt the red-hot trickle of blood along her cervix , her facial expression , and her weaponry , everywhere the hob had attacked her .
She glimpsed Bia on the flooring and well out of her reach before she had to bat away another attack . No matter . She only needed enough of an opening to form her machete and she could end this .
Joan coated her clenched fist in iron and struck the hobgoblin across the boldness . She let the alloy hang down along the same hand to spring a blade and flip it in her grip to stab into the creature ’s side . The hobgoblin catch Joan ’s wrist mid - swing and , look directly into her eyes , turn her subdivision forrad with one hand .
Joan shout as her berm was jerked out of the socket . The hurting jostle everything else from her mind and the Fe fall away back into her medal . The creature lifted Joan ’s arm , transport searing bolt through her whole body . The goblin ’s wide mouth spread into a smile . It pull its other script back , claw extended . It gasped , centre going wide , as Bia ’s iron - coated brand jabbed through its stomach .
Joan look up to see Pearl stand behind the hob , face twist in pain as she obtain the brand in both hands . This was just the distraction Joan needed .
She slap her other hand against the mirror ’s alloy chassis and felt it leap forward at her spot . The steel and gold flow down around them in slither tendrils that wrapped around the goblin , tying it and ripping the tool up and off from Joan . She list back as the hob ’s thrashing body was hale over her head and bound tightly against the mirror ’s empty wooden back .
Gasping , Joan scrambled to her base . Bia ’s hilt stuck out from where it had been stabbed through the goblin ’s back . She grabbed it and matte up the sword hissing in cult . A matching emotion welled up inside her , the throbbing pain in the neck in her shoulder feeding the flame .
How dare this creature destroy her godfather ’s shop ? How dare it assault them so ? How dare it make her bleed ?
Joan grunted and used all her strength to drive the sword upward , rending frame and bone and dim muscleman as she split the goblin in half .
She stepped back , take in the bloody , bisceted corpse suspended against the warped and ruined mirror that she ’d once put so much love into creating .
“ Well , I doubt I could polish that out , ” Pearl enunciate as she stepped up beside Joan . She was enclose blank muslin around her helping hand , which wait cerise and raw as her manakin shifted back to that of a glowing old woman . “ Get what you ’ve make out for , nestling , and be on your style . I ’ll take care of things here , as I always have . ”
Joan glanced at the woman , the Fae , and matt-up the absolute truth in her word . “ give thanks you . ” She looked at the mirror again , an aching filling her heart at cause to deconsecrate something so beautiful and made with such love . “ But I must ask you one party favour before I go . ”
“ Of course , child . What is it ? ”
Joan gestured to the arm hang limp and too long at her side . “ Could you assist me specify my articulatio humeri ? ”
Breiz N. Williams is a classically coach actress who studied musical theater at Howard University and Shakespearian performance at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama in London . Previously she ’s been a principal vocalist at Hong Kong Disneyland , a theater prof at Coppin State University , and made appearances in Queen Sugar and Leverage : repurchase . Her short tarradiddle have been published in the Gambit Weekly , Fireside Magazine , and the Star Wars anthology From a sure Point of View : The Empire Strikes Back .
Excerpt from Saint - Seducing Gold by Brittany N. Williams reprinted by permission of Amulet Books .
Saint - Seducing Gold by Brittany N. Williams will be exhaust April 23 , 2024 ; you’re able to pre - order a copyhereorhere .
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