Tremontaine

Sex, Scandal, Swordplay... and Chocolate!

Welcome to Tremontaine, where ambition, love affairs, and rivalries dance with deadly results. In this serial, Ellen Kushner and a team of writers return readers to the world of scandal and swordplay introduced in her cult-classic novel Swordspoint. Readers familiar with the series will find a welcome homecoming while new fans will learn what makes Riverside a place they will want to visit again and again. Tremontaine follows Diane, Duchess Tremontaine, whose beauty is matched only by her cunning; Rafe Fenton, a handsome young scholar with more passion than sense; Ixkaab Balam, a tradeswoman from afar with skill for swords and secrets; and Micah, a gentle genius whose discoveries herald revolution. Sparks fly as these four lives intersect in a world where politics is everything, and outcasts are the tastemakers. Tread carefully, dear reader, and keep your wit as sharp as your steel.

What people are saying about Tremontaine

“Lovely! Beneath a froth of silk and lace Tremontaine is finely muscled, rippling with skill and promise.”

- Nicola Griffith

author of Hild

“Sharp blades and even sharper wits abound! Delicious new adventures await fans in this welcome return to the world of Swordspoint.”

- Jacqueline Carey

, New York Times Bestselling author of the Kushiel’s Legacy series

“Tremontaine is an adventure, and at least two love stories, too — but it’s also a savvy commentary on the economics and ethics of cultural exchange. … It’s not just an entertaining series; it’s an incisive cultural critique.”

- Heather Hogan

, Autostraddle

Authors

The team behind Tremontaine

Ellen Kushner

Ellen Kushner's paying jobs have included folksinger, book editor, national public radio host (Sound & Spirit/WGBH), writing teacher (Clarion, Odyssey, WRX, Hollins Child.Lit.MFA), audiobook narrator (all three Riverside novels for Neil Gaiman Presents) and pilgrim at Plimoth Plantation. Her Riverside novels begin with Swordspoint, followed by The Privilege of the Sword (Locus Award, Nebula nominee); The Fall of the Kings (written with Delia Sherman) and a growing collection of short stories. She lives in New York City with Delia Sherman, no cats, and a whole lot of airplane and theater ticket stubs she just can’t bring herself to throw away.

Alaya Dawn Johnson

Alaya Dawn Johnson is the author of six novels for adults and young adults. Her novel The Summer Prince was longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Her most recent, Love Is the Drug, won the Andre Norton Award. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, including Asimov's, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Interzone, Subterranean, Zombies vs. Unicorns and Welcome to Bordertown. In addition to the Norton, she has won the Cybils and Nebula Awards and been nominated for the Indies Choice Award and Locus Award. She lives in Mexico City.

Tessa Gratton

Tessa Gratton has wanted to be a paleontologist or a wizard since she was seven. Alas, she turned out too impatient to hunt dinosaurs, but is still searching for a someone to teach her magic. After traveling the world with her military family, she acquired a BA (and the important parts of an MA) in Gender Studies, then settled down in Kansas with her partner, her cats, and her mutant dog. She now spends her days staring at the sky and telling lots of stories about magic. tessagratton.com. @tessagratton.

Joel Derfner

Joel Derfner is the author of Gay Haiku, Swish: My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever and What Ended Up Happening Instead, and Lawfully Wedded Husband: How My Gay Marriage Will Save the American Family. (Are you sensing a theme?) Musicals to which he has composed the score have played in New York, London, and various cities in between (going counterclockwise). He lives, alas, in Brooklyn, along with his husband and their small, fluffy dog. He can be found online at joelderfner.com.

Mary Anne Mohanraj

Mary Anne Mohanraj received her Ph.D. from the University of Utah, specializing in post-colonial literature and creative writing. She is the author of several books, including her dissertation novel, Bodies in Motion, an exploration of sexuality, marriage, and Sri Lankan/American immigrant concerns. Her academic research includes an exploration of black masculinity in the work of horror writer Tananarive Due. Mohanraj has recently received an Illinois Arts Council fellowship, a Neff fellowship in English, a Steffenson-Canon fellowship in the Humanities, and the Scowcroft Prize for Fiction. She lives in Chicago. maryannemohanraj.com.@mamohanraj.

Photo credit: Patty Nason

Malinda Lo

Malinda Lo is the author of several young adult novels including most recently the science fiction duo logy Adaptation and Inheritance (Little, Brown). Her first novel, Ash, a retelling of Cinderella with a lesbian twist, was a finalist for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Andre Norton Award, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and the Lambda Literary Award. Her novel Huntress was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award. Malinda's website is www.malindalo.com.

Racheline Maltese

Racheline Maltese is a performer and storyteller focused on themes of loss, desire, and fame. With Erin McRae she co-writes the Love in Los Angeles LGBTQ+ contemporary romance series from Torquere Press and the Love's Labours contemporary gay romance series from Dreamspinner Press. From tentacle monsters that rule the New York City subways to lesbian werewolf bodyguards in 19th century Rome, her short fiction is about the practical problems caused by fantastical events. Racheline also writes plays and poetry, and her non-fiction on all things pop-culture has been widely published. @Racheline_M.

Patty Bryant

Patty Bryant is a cafe-based writer who publishes in the romance genre under several different pen names. She has an M.A. in archaeology from New York University and, when she is not in the field, lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is passionate about tea, nail polish, and horror movies.

Paul Witcover

Paul Witcover is the Nebula and World Fantasy nominated author of, most recently, The Emperor of All Things and its sequel, The Watchman of Eternity. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, and takes his chocolate hot and spicy, hold the cream. @PaulWitcover.

Swordplay, scandal, and sex—welcome to the world of Tremontaine

The Balams throws a banquet for the prodigal Kaab. Sparks fly when Rafe makes a new acquaintance.

Rafe and Kaab look for love in all the wrong places. Diane cuts a deal.

Dead men tell tales. Micah solves a problem.

Kaab goes blade to blade against Riverside's finest.

The City prepares for the event of the season.

An Ugly Duckling attends the Swan Ball. Diane gets desperate.

Rafe sits for his exams and a desperate city seeks substitutes for chocolate.

Micah makes a breakthrough. And Kaab faces the music.

Death returns to Riverside. Diane makes a fateful choice.

Will fears he is losing his mind. Kaab unlocks a deadly secret.

Diane's secret is revealed. And Kaab makes an offer that cannot be refused.

Kaab triumphant. Diane ascendant. And Rafe gets a consolation prize.

The Council of the Lords is back in session and Diane looks to cement her power.

Vincent makes a splash while Kaab must rescue Micah and Joshua.

Alliances shift as relationships on both the Hill and in Riverside grow complicated.

Kaab fights her first professional duel. Diane pursues her destiny.

Kaab contemplates the meaning of home. Diane hosts a spectacle.

An unwelcome admirer for Esha provides Diane with an opportunity.

Diane faces an unexpectedly skilled adversary.

Micah accompanies Rafe on his mission to rescue Will.

Diane navigates her precarious position, and Tess’s loyalties are torn.

Diane offers Rafe a deal as Kaab attempts to bargain with Tess.

Vincent is forced into a confrontation; Kaab offers Diane an opportunity.

Diane seeks help; Kaab and Vincent face their duel’s consequences.

Diane has her day in Council; Kaab prepares to leave the city.

Sex, Scandal, Swordplay... and Chocolate!

What people are saying about Tremontaine

- Nicola Griffith

- Jacqueline Carey

- Heather Hogan

Authors

The team behind Tremontaine

Ellen Kushner

Alaya Dawn Johnson

Tessa Gratton

Joel Derfner

Mary Anne Mohanraj

Malinda Lo

Racheline Maltese

Patty Bryant

Paul Witcover

Get Your Hands On Tremontaine!

Tremontaine Season Two Omnibus!

Locus Shines the Spotlight on Ellen Kushner

Ellen Kushner on writing Tremontaine S2E13: “Dissolution”

Season Finale! Tremontaine S2E13: “Dissolution”

Mary Anne Mohanraj on writing Tremontaine S2E12: “Smoke and Ashes”

New Episode! Tremontaine S2E12: “Smoke and Ashes”

Awards Eligibility

Tessa Gratton on writing Tremontaine S1E11: “In The Shadow of Riverside”