[Crooked Empires 01] • The Man-Butcher Prize

Blacklisted, ostracised; it's not every day an assassin must enter a fight to the death.

The Empire is bloated and corrupt, assassination contracts against enemies, rivals and even spurned family members are becoming the norm. In the north east, The Assassins’ Guild has founded Blackbile, a lawless city on the slopes of a volcano and host to The Man-Butcher Prize – a bloody competition for the most fearsome killers.

A botched-job sees William blacklisted from The Guild and stripped of his right to contract. Desperate for redemption, his last hope is to become the next Man-Butcher.

With renowned assassins from across the Empire and two former champions competing, this year’s prize is set to be the biggest and most brutal yet. Worse, an impromptu allegiance with the vengeful Vesta entangles him with the Cult of the Sacrificial Lambs.

Fighting against all the odds, anything less than victory will see William in an early grave.