BOOK  1: That Self-Same Metal

Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a gifted craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company, The King’s Men. Joan’s skill with her blades comes from a magical ability to control metal—an ability gifted by her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her whole family is Orisha-blessed, the Sands family have always kept tabs on the Fae presence in London.

Usually that doesn’t involve much except noting the faint glow around a Fae’s body as they try to blend in with London society, but lately, there has been an uptick in brutal Fae attacks. After Joan wounds a powerful Fae and saves the son of a cruel lord, she is drawn into political intrigue in the human and Fae worlds.

Hailed as “glorious (and very stabby)” by The New York Times and “A fresh take on faerie magic.” by Leigh Bardugo and is a finalist for the Lambda “Lammy” Literary Award for Outstanding LGBTQ+ Young Adult and The Ignyte Award for Outstanding Novel: Young Adult.
A picture of actress Patricia Allison

History, drama, and fantasy collide in this mesmerizing audiobook, deftly narrated by Patricia Allison.

-Audiofile Magazine

UK EDITION

*Cover art by Manzi Jackson

Y EN ESPAÑOL

Traducio por María Angulo Fernández y Roca Editorial

En eBook y tapa blanda con solapas

Watch the book trailer.

Praise for That Self-Same Metal

  • “...glorious (and very stabby!)”

    The New York Times

  • "Williams weaves an intricate, historically rich tapestry. Fans of Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas will love this start of a new series.”

    School Library Journal (Starred Review)

  • “Fast-paced and full of enthusiastic little winks to real-life people and events, That Self-Same Metal offers a fresh take on inclusive historical fantasy.”

    NPR Books

  • “Vividly expressive, riotously queer, beautifully Black, and wildly creative...”

    Locus Magazine

  • "...an addicting, original story that isn’t afraid to take risks."

    Booklist

  • "...brilliant representations of queerness and set in a glorious foundation will pull readers in. Promising and original.”

    Kirkus Reviews

  • "...a richly woven fantasy...a clever, entertaining, thoughtful read.”

    Shelf Awareness (Starred Review)

  • "...once immersed in the world of Joan Sands, you’re not going to want to leave.”

    Tor.com