Sister Svangerd and the Not Quite Dead
K J Parker
(Author)
This title will be released on:
Jan 27, 2026
Description
Not even the Church of the Invincible Sun is invincible - and somebody has to do its dirty work. Enter Sister Svangerd and her accompanying priest, both accomplished practitioners. Their mission is simple: to make a meddlesome princess disappear (permanently).
To get to her, they must attend the legendary Ecumenical Council, the once-in-a-century convening of the greatest spiritual minds the world has to offer. But when they arrive, they find instead a den of villainy that would make the most hardened criminal blush.
To complicate matters further, it appears that some people long considered dead might not be after all. What began as a simple murder is about to escalate into a theological debate of terrifying complexity.
For more from K. J. Parker, check out:
Saevus Corax Deals With the Dead
Saevus Corax Captures the Castle
Saevus Corax Gets Away with Murder
Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City
How to Rule an Empire and Get Away With It
A Practical Guide to Conquering the World
The Two of Swords
The Two of Swords: Volume One
The Two of Swords Volume Two
The Two of Swords: Volume Three
The Fencer Trilogy
Colours in the Steel
The Belly of the Bow
The Proof House
The Scavenger Trilogy
Shadow
Pattern
Memory
Engineer Trilogy
Devices and Desires
Evil for Evil
The Escapement
The Company
The Folding Knife
Product Details
| Publisher | Orbit |
| Publish Date | January 27, 2026 |
| Pages | 368 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Paperback / softback |
| EAN/UPC | 9780316566988 |
| Dimensions | 8.3 X 5.5 X 1.0 inches | 0.0 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
"Another erudite stroll through a Dark Ages-inspired alternate world... Parker breezily tosses off bits of invented theology and details of faked manuscript manufacture alongside the sardonic observations of his put-upon monk and sassy religious sister with a dark past, giving the reader a tasty buffet of light but filling bon mots. Parker's fans and newcomers alike will be excited to see where this series goes next."
--Publishers Weekly"Well-crafted, powerful and downright unmissable."--SFX on The Company
"A richly textured and emotionally complex fantasy...Highly recommended."--Library Journal on The Engineer Trilogy (starred review)
"Astonishingly good."--RT Book Reviews on Sharps
"Brilliant."--Locus on The Engineer Trilogy
"Full of invention and ingenuity . . . Great fun."--SFX on Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City
"Parker's acerbic wit and knowledge of human nature are a delight to read as he explores the way conflict is guided, in equal measure, by the brilliance and unerring foolishness of humanity . . . . Thoroughly engaging."--RT Books Reviews on The Two of Swords: Volume One
"Parker's skillful control of pacing, expert rendering of characters, and subtle sense of humor add depth and believability."--Library Journal on Sharps
"Part political intrigue, part underdog tale, part acerbic commentary on humanity, Parker's dryly funny low fantasy is off to a strong start."--Booklist on Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead
"Readers who like Peter David, A. Lee Martinez, or the Guardians of the Galaxy movies will find this title right up their alley with similar tones, fantastical plots, and over-the-top characters."--Library Journal on Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead
"Skillful plotting and rich scene-setting."--Guardian on The Company
"This is another splendid offering from K.J. Parker, the (pseudonymous) British fantasist who seems incapable of writing in anything but top form."--Locus on Sharps
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