Name: The Blacktongue Thief
Rating: 4.067272727272727 (275 reviews)
ISBN: 9781250621184

Set in a world of goblin wars, stag-sized battle ravens, and assassins who kill with deadly tattoos, Christopher Buehlman's The Blacktongue Thief begins a 'dazzling' (Robin Hobb) fantasy adventure unlike any other. Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path. But today, Kinch Na Shannack has picked the wrong mark. Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. She is searching for her queen, missing since a distant northern city fell to giants. Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds his fate entangled with Galva's. Common enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford. “The Blacktongue Thief is fast and fun and filled with crazy magic. I can't wait to see what Christopher Buehlman does next." - Brent Weeks, New York Times bestselling author of the Lightbringer series At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Dark fantasy and horror fiction gained a distinct blend of historical grit, macabre atmosphere, and sharp humor through novels such as Between Two Fires and The Blacktongue Thief. Christopher Buehlman established his reputation across speculative fiction by pairing detailed historical or urban settings with folklore, monsters, and morally complex characters. His narrative approach draws heavily on myth, dark comedy, and realistic character voices across both standalone horror novels and epic fantasy series.

Career & Background

Born in Tampa, Florida, on February 22, 1969, Buehlman grew up in the Tampa Bay area and later attended Florida State University, where he majored in French language and literature. Before publishing novels, he spent decades performing as a comedian, playwright, and poet. He gained wide recognition on the US renaissance festival circuit under the stage persona Christophe the Insultor, Verbal Mercenary. His early literary achievements included winning the Bridport Prize for poetry in 2007 for his poem Wanton.

Buehlman transitioned to long-form fiction with his debut horror novel Those Across the River in 2011, followed by Between Two Fires in 2012, a novel combining medieval plague horror with apocalyptic religious themes. Over the subsequent decade, he authored urban horror and fantasy titles including The Necromancer's House, The Lesser Dead, and The Suicide Motor Club. In 2021, he expanded into high fantasy with The Blacktongue Thief, followed by its prequel The Daughters' War in 2024. He divides his time between Florida and France.

Writing Style & Themes

Buehlman's writing is marked by deep immersion in regional, historical, and folkloric settings, ranging from 1930s Georgia and 1970s New York City to fourteenth-century France during the Black Death. He frequently subverts familiar genre tropes, presenting vampires, sorcerers, and medieval mercenaries through gritty, grounded perspectives enriched by dark comedy and authentic dialogue. His backgrounds in poetry and live performance inform his rhythmic prose, distinct character voices, and balance of tragic drama with sharp levity.

Major Works

Those Across the River — Published in 2011, this debut novel set in 1930s Georgia explores family secrets, Southern gothic atmosphere, and werewolf folklore in a rural town haunted by past violence.
Between Two Fires — Published in 2012, this historical dark fantasy follows a disgraced knight and a young girl traversing fourteenth-century France amid the Black Death and a cosmic war between angels and demons.
The Necromancer's House — Published in 2013, this contemporary fantasy story centers on a recovering alcoholic sorcerer in upstate New York who faces vengeful figures from Russian folklore.
The Lesser Dead — Published in 2014, this dark urban horror novel depicts a hidden subterranean vampire colony operating beneath the streets and subways of 1978 New York City.
The Suicide Motor Club — Published in 2016, this horror novel pits a grieving mother against a roving band of vehicular vampires hunting on American highways in the late 1960s.
The Blacktongue Thief — Published in 2021, this high fantasy novel introduces Kinch Na Shannack, a guild-trained thief navigating a war-torn world filled with goblins, kraken, and dangerous magic.
The Daughters' War — Published in 2024 as a prequel to The Blacktongue Thief, this epic fantasy novel chronicles a brutal war against goblins through the perspective of a soldier named Galva.

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Those Across the River — Published in 2011, this debut novel set in 1930s Georgia explores family secrets, Southern gothic atmosphere, and werewolf folklore in a rural town haunted by past violence.
Between Two Fires — Published in 2012, this historical dark fantasy follows a disgraced knight and a young girl traversing fourteenth-century France amid the Black Death and a cosmic war between angels and demons.
The Necromancer's House — Published in 2013, this contemporary fantasy story centers on a recovering alcoholic sorcerer in upstate New York who faces vengeful figures from Russian folklore.
The Lesser Dead — Published in 2014, this dark urban horror novel depicts a hidden subterranean vampire colony operating beneath the streets and subways of 1978 New York City.
The Suicide Motor Club — Published in 2016, this horror novel pits a grieving mother against a roving band of vehicular vampires hunting on American highways in the late 1960s.
The Blacktongue Thief — Published in 2021, this high fantasy novel introduces Kinch Na Shannack, a guild-trained thief navigating a war-torn world filled with goblins, kraken, and dangerous magic.
The Daughters' War — Published in 2024 as a prequel to The Blacktongue Thief, this epic fantasy novel chronicles a brutal war against goblins through the perspective of a soldier named Galva.

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Those Across the River — Published in 2011, this debut novel set in 1930s Georgia explores family secrets, Southern gothic atmosphere, and werewolf folklore in a rural town haunted by past violence.
Between Two Fires — Published in 2012, this historical dark fantasy follows a disgraced knight and a young girl traversing fourteenth-century France amid the Black Death and a cosmic war between angels and demons.
The Necromancer's House — Published in 2013, this contemporary fantasy story centers on a recovering alcoholic sorcerer in upstate New York who faces vengeful figures from Russian folklore.
The Lesser Dead — Published in 2014, this dark urban horror novel depicts a hidden subterranean vampire colony operating beneath the streets and subways of 1978 New York City.
The Suicide Motor Club — Published in 2016, this horror novel pits a grieving mother against a roving band of vehicular vampires hunting on American highways in the late 1960s.
The Blacktongue Thief — Published in 2021, this high fantasy novel introduces Kinch Na Shannack, a guild-trained thief navigating a war-torn world filled with goblins, kraken, and dangerous magic.
The Daughters' War — Published in 2024 as a prequel to The Blacktongue Thief, this epic fantasy novel chronicles a brutal war against goblins through the perspective of a soldier named Galva.

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

Those Across the River — Published in 2011, this debut novel set in 1930s Georgia explores family secrets, Southern gothic atmosphere, and werewolf folklore in a rural town haunted by past violence.
Between Two Fires — Published in 2012, this historical dark fantasy follows a disgraced knight and a young girl traversing fourteenth-century France amid the Black Death and a cosmic war between angels and demons.
The Necromancer's House — Published in 2013, this contemporary fantasy story centers on a recovering alcoholic sorcerer in upstate New York who faces vengeful figures from Russian folklore.
The Lesser Dead — Published in 2014, this dark urban horror novel depicts a hidden subterranean vampire colony operating beneath the streets and subways of 1978 New York City.
The Suicide Motor Club — Published in 2016, this horror novel pits a grieving mother against a roving band of vehicular vampires hunting on American highways in the late 1960s.
The Blacktongue Thief — Published in 2021, this high fantasy novel introduces Kinch Na Shannack, a guild-trained thief navigating a war-torn world filled with goblins, kraken, and dangerous magic.
The Daughters' War — Published in 2024 as a prequel to The Blacktongue Thief, this epic fantasy novel chronicles a brutal war against goblins through the perspective of a soldier named Galva.

The Blacktongue Thief,

The Blacktongue Thief,

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§Synopsis

§About the Author

Career & Background

Writing Style & Themes

Major Works

§Featured Series

The Daughters' War