Blacktongue Thief
Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief — lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, and a few small magics. Deep in debt, he lies in wait on an old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler who crosses his path.
He picks the wrong mark. Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death, searching for her queen, who vanished when a distant northern city fell to giants.
Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch finds his fate now entangled with Galva's. Common enemies and uncommon dangers push thief and knight into an epic journey through a world where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford.
A thief deep in debt to the Takers Guild for his training in lock-picking, combat and small magics; the story's narrator.
A knight and survivor of the goblin wars, handmaiden of the goddess of death, searching for her missing queen.
A young witch's apprentice who joins Kinch and Galva on their journey.
The story concludes with a clear resolution to the immediate quest, but it also leaves room for future adventures, suggesting a larger narrative arc for the protagonist.
While Christopher Buehlman's other novels often lean into horror, Blacktongue Thief showcases his talent for dark humor and intricate world-building within a more traditional fantasy framework, making it a good entry point for readers new to his writing.