“I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin”
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.
But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.
“I was born for killing – the gods made me to ruin”
At the Convent of Sweet Mercy young girls are raised to be killers. In a few the old bloods show, gifting talents rarely seen since the tribes beached their ships on Abeth. Sweet Mercy hones its novices’ skills to deadly effect: it takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist.
But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don’t truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls as a bloodstained child of eight, falsely accused of murder: guilty of worse.
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Find Red Sister Mark Lawrence in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.
Find Red Sister Mark Lawrence in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.
5 books in catalog
Dark epic fantasy fiction gained a prominent modern foundation through The Broken Empire trilogy, a series known for its unyielding dark world-building and complex character focus. American-British author Mark Lawrence established his position in the genre with this trilogy, culminating in Emperor of Thorns, which won the David Gemmell Award for Fantasy for best novel in 2014. Beyond his initial trilogy, he expanded his fantasy bibliography with acclaimed sagas such as Red Sister and The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, reaching audiences across subgenres ranging from dark fantasy to expansive library-centered epics.
In addition to his written works, Lawrence made an impact on the broader speculative fiction community by establishing the annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off in 2015. This initiative created a visible platform for independent authors, connecting self-published writers with fantasy reviewers and readers.
Mark Lawrence was born in 1966 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to British parents and moved to the United Kingdom at a young age. He earned a degree in physics and completed a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College London before returning to the United States to conduct research. Outside of creative writing, he worked as a research scientist focused on complex computational problems in artificial intelligence, holding secret-level security clearances with both the United States and United Kingdom governments.
Lawrence is married and has four children, serving as the primary caregiver for a child with severe disabilities. Because of his caregiving responsibilities at home, he does not travel to conventions or conduct traditional book tours. He balances his writing career and scientific work with personal pursuits such as playing computer games, tending an allotment, and brewing beer.
Lawrence's writing style covers a broad range of speculative subgenres, from dark grimdark fantasy populated by morally ambiguous protagonists to intricate stories involving temporal and spatial mysteries. His academic background in mathematics and physical science influences his structured world-building and plot construction, while his character arcs center on survival, loyalty, and the consequences of hard choices.
Across distinct settings—including the Book of the Ancestor series featuring Red Sister and the Library Trilogy featuring The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and The Book That Broke the World—Lawrence explores recurring themes of preserved knowledge, ancient history, and individual resilience. His adaptability allows him to transition smoothly between dark military fantasy and expansive story arcs grounded in vast, secret-filled environments.
5 books in catalog
Dark epic fantasy fiction gained a prominent modern foundation through The Broken Empire trilogy, a series known for its unyielding dark world-building and complex character focus. American-British author Mark Lawrence established his position in the genre with this trilogy, culminating in Emperor of Thorns, which won the David Gemmell Award for Fantasy for best novel in 2014. Beyond his initial trilogy, he expanded his fantasy bibliography with acclaimed sagas such as Red Sister and The Book That Wouldn’t Burn, reaching audiences across subgenres ranging from dark fantasy to expansive library-centered epics.
In addition to his written works, Lawrence made an impact on the broader speculative fiction community by establishing the annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off in 2015. This initiative created a visible platform for independent authors, connecting self-published writers with fantasy reviewers and readers.
Mark Lawrence was born in 1966 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, to British parents and moved to the United Kingdom at a young age. He earned a degree in physics and completed a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College London before returning to the United States to conduct research. Outside of creative writing, he worked as a research scientist focused on complex computational problems in artificial intelligence, holding secret-level security clearances with both the United States and United Kingdom governments.
Lawrence is married and has four children, serving as the primary caregiver for a child with severe disabilities. Because of his caregiving responsibilities at home, he does not travel to conventions or conduct traditional book tours. He balances his writing career and scientific work with personal pursuits such as playing computer games, tending an allotment, and brewing beer.
Lawrence's writing style covers a broad range of speculative subgenres, from dark grimdark fantasy populated by morally ambiguous protagonists to intricate stories involving temporal and spatial mysteries. His academic background in mathematics and physical science influences his structured world-building and plot construction, while his character arcs center on survival, loyalty, and the consequences of hard choices.
Across distinct settings—including the Book of the Ancestor series featuring Red Sister and the Library Trilogy featuring The Book That Wouldn’t Burn and The Book That Broke the World—Lawrence explores recurring themes of preserved knowledge, ancient history, and individual resilience. His adaptability allows him to transition smoothly between dark military fantasy and expansive story arcs grounded in vast, secret-filled environments.
Book of the Ancestor
Book of the Ancestor
