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Poison Dance: A short story (Midnight Thief Book 0) Kindle Edition

by Livia Blackburne (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 187 ratings
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James is skilled, efficient, and deadly, a hired blade navigating the shifting alliances of a deteriorating Assassin’s Guild. Then he meets Thalia, an alluring but troubled dancing girl who offers him a way out—if he’ll help her kill a powerful nobleman. With the Guild falling apart, it just might be worth the risk. But when you live, breathe, and love in a world that’s forever flirting with death, the slightest misstep can be poison.

Poison Dance is a short story of approximately 14,000 words long (54 printed pages). The ebook also includes several deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes blog posts about the writing process for this novella.

EXCERPT:
He handed her a stiletto the length of her hand and molded her fingers around the handle. Her hands were slender and her nails were delicately rounded, though her palms were calloused. The two of them stood in the cramped space between his bed and the window, holding the blade between them.

“You can wear this dagger under your sleeves. Then, when you get your chance . . .” James guided the knife toward his own throat. “Go for the neck—the blood vessels and the windpipe. You’ll have to be close for that. Quick.”

He lowered the stiletto until its tip grazed his neck just above his collarbone. Her eyes widened, and she looked to his face.

He smiled and tightened his hands around her wrist. “Never let your guard down. Never trust anyone, and never leave yourself vulnerable.”

“What if I’d surprised you just now? I could have been sent by someone to kill you.”

“You wouldn’t have.”

She arched her eyebrow. “I wouldn’t have killed you?”

“You wouldn’t have surprised me.” He continued. “You have to be aware. If someone is this close to you, holding a weapon, you need to be on your guard. I’m watching your eyes, your shoulders. I’m aware of how you’re standing, where your balance is. If you tighten your muscles to strike, I’ll feel it in your arm. You should be doing the same with me.”

Her eyes were cautious as she took in what he said. And he watched her look down, taking in his arms, the angle of his chest. Her gaze went inward and her lips fell slightly open as she tried to get a feel for his balance. Standing as close as they were, he could smell a light perfume on her skin.

Thalia seemed to remember herself. She disengaged her wrist and backed away.

“What makes a lass like you into a killer?” he asked.

She shot him an annoyed look, and the tension left the room. “I didn’t hire you to delve into my past.”

“Are you sure you want to do this? It changes you, you know, your first kill.”

A smile touched her lips, a hint of a challenge. “You’re quite determined to have me think this over. Do you regret your first kill?”

It was an interesting question, and he gave it some thought. “No,” he finally said. “I regret not having done it sooner.”

“Who was it?” She tilted her head in anticipation of a tale. “Some Red Shield?”

“My father.” He smiled when her eyes widened. “I’ll make you a deal. You can keep your secrets, and I’ll keep mine.”

“Fair enough.”


What inspired you to write Poison Dance?
James started as a side character in my YA medieval fantasy Midnight Thief, and he fascinated me. He was head of the assassins guild, but much more than a thug. He had ideals, and I wanted to know how he got them. As I explored his past, I fell in love with Thalia as well, with her sad, tragic air and will of steel. Eventually, what started out as a character sketch evolved into a short story of their romance.
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  1. Print length
    96 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    January 17, 2014
  5. File size
    3638 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

I originally conceived of James as a supporting character in my novel Midnight Thief, and I quickly fell in love with him. As the enigmatic leader of the Assassins Guild, James was cool, competent and intriguing. He was the type of character who invited questions. How had he come to power at such a young age? What was behind his hatred of the nobility? Had he loved before? Was he even capable of love? I wanted to tell his story, and here's the result.

Midnight Thief or Poison Dance, which to read first? As many of you know, Poison Dance is a prequel novella to my novel Midnight Thief. I've gotten questions about which to read first, and I've also had many discussions with various readers about this topic. The answer is going to be different for everybody, but here is my official recommendation.

TLDR Version: If you have both handy, then read Midnight Thief first. However, if you only have Poison Dance, it also works to start with that.

Longer version: Starting with Midnight Thief gives you an emotionally smoother experience. There are fewer unexpected bumps along the way, and you may an easier time caring about the characters in Poison Dance if you already know them from the novel. Midnight Thief does spoil Poison Dance in a major way, but I don't think it's the kind the spoiler that ruins the story. But -- if you're the kind of person who absolutely does not want to know what happens, then you might want to read Poison Dance first.

Starting with Poison Dance is much more jarring. You will most likely be surprised or taken aback by things that happen, and you may or may not like those surprises. That said, there is a good-sized contingent of people who recommend starting with Poison Dance. The main advantage is that you get James's backstory, and it will likely color your view of him in Midnight Thief and give the story more depth.

A few more random facts. Poison dance was written after Midnight Thief but published before. Also, the two stories are not quite the same. Poison Dance reads older -- the violence is more matter-of-fact, and there are more adult themes. This is mainly because it's told from the the point of view a 25-year-old hardened assassin. Midnight Thief, told from the point of view of a 17 year old girl thief, also has a great deal of violence, murder, and intrigue, but the overall tone is not as gritty. Midnight Thief is rated 12 and up by my publisher. Poison Dance would probably be rated 14 and up.

About the Author

Livia Blackburne has a PhD in neuroscience from MIT, where she conducted research on the neural correlates of reading. She still blogs on the intersection of writing and brain science (blog.liviablackburne.com). She lives in Los Angeles with her husband. This is her debut novel.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00F4MZ1O4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lion's Quill Press (January 17, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 17, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3638 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 187 ratings

About the author

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Livia Blackburne

Livia Blackburne

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New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne wrote her first novel while she was a PhD student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she conducted research on the neuroscience of reading acquisition in children. Upon graduation, she switched to writing full time, which also involves getting into people’s heads but without the help of a three tesla MRI scanner.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
187 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Alyssa
5.0 out of 5 stars Review for Poison Dance by Livia Blackburne
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Poison Dance by Livia Blackburne
Publication Date: September 12, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC sent by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

James is skilled, efficient, and deadly, a hired blade navigating the shifting alliances of a deteriorating Assassin's Guild. Then he meets Thalia, an alluring but troubled dancing girl who offers him a way out--if he'll help her kill a powerful nobleman. With the Guild falling apart, it just might be worth the risk. But when you live, breathe, and love in a world that's forever flirting with death, the slightest misstep can be poison.

What I Liked:

You all KNOW how badly I want to read Midnight Thief, right? That's Livia's official debut, to be published by Disney-Hyperion, in early July. I've been *aching* for that book since like, May (no seriously - check my "About Me" page). So, when Livia mentioned that she would self-publishing a novella related to Midnight Thief, you know I was all over that!

James is one of the characters that we will see in Midnight Thief, and if I'm not mistaken, he plays a pretty significant role. Maybe not as a protagonist, but as a secondary character with an important role in the plot. This novella is about him, and a young woman that he meets - Thalia.

Thalia knows something that James wants to know - about the Guild, assassinations, his former leader... somehow, she knows more than she leads on. James and Thalia work together, and form an agreement. Thalia will give James information, if James uses his assassination skills to kill someone for Thalia.

Both characters are so complex! You wouldn't think that a novella could convey so much about two characters, in such a short length, but Livia does this brilliantly! James is torn between duty and love, and Thalia... she's just broken. A difficult past filled with loss and death, a miserable future filled with pigs for men and slobs for employers - Thalia is so complicated. Her need for James to kill the person is twisted and tragic.

I admire Thalia's bravery and courage. Thalia is headstrong and independent, but she is also very clever and strategic. She knows when to act demure, and when to show her claws. In this regard, she and James are very well matched. James is extremely observant, strong, and analytically minded.

The progression of their relationship is slow and beautiful. I love how Livia times everything perfectly. The relationship grows - it doesn't feel rushed and insta-love-y, or dragged out and boring. James and Thalia are a great couple! And there is no love triangle - thank goodness!

The plot of this novella is actually rather complex, instead of a straightforward one, which most novellas feature. So many things are going on - with James, the Guild, Thalia, her mark, her training, the trade business... Livia weaves a complex world into a short space, and somehow, manages to capture the world in a simple and intricate manner.

The ending. The ending is bittersweet. I totally saw the ending coming - it's the way the story is set up. From the beginning, I knew for sure that one thing would happen, and it did. The thing is, as bittersweet as that event is, this novella really couldn't end any other way. Read this book, and you'll know what I mean!

What I Did Not Like:

There wasn't much that I didn't like - maybe that I NEED Midnight Thief even more than before?! Yes. That.

Would I Recommend It:

Totally! As with most novellas, it's not necessary to read this novella before or after reading Midnight Thief (not that I would currently know about AFTER). But we get some great insight on James (and Thalia), so why not? It's priced very cheaply, and totally worth your dollar!

Rating:

5 stars. I can't wait to read more from this author! But you already knew that. Please give me an ARC, Disney!
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HRH79
4.0 out of 5 stars Great back story of one of Midnight Thief's villains
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
I read Midnight Thief first and my interest in James, who turns out to be one of the villain's of the story, was so great I just happened to look to see when the next book was coming out and found that there was a novella about him that was FREE. I'm not a huge fan of novellas, generally speaking, but when a character peaks my interest enough to know more about their back story than I find them to be quite helpful.

James became a member of the Assassin's Guild at the age of 15. He was young, and still had a conscience that was bothered by the shedding of blood. He hated to have the blood of someone else drying on his hands. But killing is part of the job description in the Assassin's Guild and in time he became hardened to it.

This novella is a further glimpse into James and Thalia, a girl who is mentioned in Midnight Thief. It is eluded there that James had a relationship with Thalia. So of course, I wanted to know more about what happened between them. This story takes place 10 years after James first got involved with the Assassin's Guild. Their leader has just been murdered and the second in command to rise up to be the leader wants James out of the way. Thalia wants revenge against someone and she seeks James out to help her.

Favorite Quotes:
"Risk is everywhere. Only the nobles have the luxury of a long easy life. Justice, vengeance, the ability to carve out your own fate instead of being herded like an animal. Sometimes it's worth dying for."

Final Rating - 4 stars
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Christina (A Reader of Fictions)
3.0 out of 5 stars Decent, but Not Really Bringing the Characterization
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2014
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As you probably know, I’m not much for novellas, but I will read them if I can get them for free one way or another. In this case, I was actually offered a review copy ages ago but I was indecisive until it was too late to respond. Then I was getting ready to start Midnight Thief and my brain was all “what about that thing?” so I went to look it up on Amazon. Lo and behold, it was available for free, so away I went. All told, Poison Dance is very much a novella and not super heavy on the plot, but it was intriguing enough that I’m pretty excited for Midnight Thief now.

Poison Dance follows James, an assassin, through the turbulent time after the death of the leader of the assassin’s guild. James is a really skilled assassin, so the new guy in power totally doesn’t trust James not to overthrow him. Much as James keeps trying to insist that he doesn’t want to be in power, Gerred insists on not trusting him. I feel like the main point of the novella is setting up the politics for the world in the series and, not having studied the blurb in detail, I’ll be curious to see which characters appear in Midnight Thief.

The characters in the novella are interesting, but the pace is fast enough and the text brief enough I didn’t have time to really emotionally attach. Still, it’s all good enough that I could see myself loving a full novel of this world. Blackburne’s world is most definitely promising, full of assassins and shady characters. Plus, I love how dark this novella gets. I like my fantasy nice and dark, and I get the feeling I might get that from Blackburne. Oh, also, there’s sex in it (fade to black, but still).

The epilogue is hilarious in just how much happens in there. It definitely felt like half the story was just thrown into that. Like, okay, it’s a novella, but that was some awesome stuff that just got skimmed over. The rest of the story was building to something and then it basically fast forwards through of all of that to give you a state of the union down the road.

The novella did what it was meant to in that it whet my appetite for the book to follow. Basically, I liked this, but I’m mostly wishing there were more of it and OH HEY there is a book.
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Top reviews from other countries

Ms. R. M. Silverlight
5.0 out of 5 stars Bite-size novella that whets the appetite for Midnight Thief
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
Poison dance tells the story of intelligent assassin James--who knows that staying alive and getting paid is worth more than fighting his way to the top of the assassin's guild and becoming 'king of a privy'--and Thalia, the secretive dancing girl with a spine made of steel who hires him to teach her how to kill. It's a prequel to Livia Blackburn's debut novel, out this July, and a quick read (I read it on Kindle but the print version is 84 pages long, and some pages are given over to extras, after the story itself ends), but packs a powerful punch with its tight plot, fascinating characters and equally fascinating world.

I say fascinating--because James and Thalia *are* fascinating. James is an assassin and works for an assassin's guild--two things you'll easily find if you dip into a modern fantasy novel--but while he's certainly likeable and sympathetic, he doesn't lose sleep over the kills he has to make to keep his job, either. In short, he's a believable assassin. Working for a believable assassin's guild--one that's fallen from the glory days of artful poisons and court intrigue and become grubby with power struggles, paranoia and cheap thuggery.

It's hard to decide what to call Thalia. Second main character, female lead? I don't think it matters, because Thalia is a very well crafted and unique character with an almost magnetic presence and bearing on the plot. She has agency, too, in spades--she may not be narrating this tale, but it's just as much hers as James's. The chemistry between these two characters is phenomenal--and I'm not just talking about romantic chemistry, but the whole spectrum of their interactions, none of which feel trite, tropey or in any way forced in service to conflict or plot points. The plot, rather, flows naturally out of what happens when James and Thalia meet, and start talking. The dialogue is excellent, but also economical--and Blackburne says just as much about Thalia and James in the pauses between conversation, latent emotions and small actions carried by each.

There is enormous power in Blackburne's writing, and if you've come here by way of her blog, as I have, you'll know she's studied almost every aspect of writing from a brain scientist's point of view. Well, it definitely shows. Debut novelist she may be, but there is true mastery at work here. Blackburne succeeds wholly in propelling you hard into a very well-realised fantasy world, telling her story through characters whose development is so well nuanced that you don't even notice it happening--until her carefully-stacked stake pile tips the scales and it all gloriously overflows and you find you're rooting for characters you've only just met, but feel you've known for an entire novel.

I heartily recommend this book--a perfectly told story in itself, and a gripping introduction to the fantasy world we'll meet fully in Midnight Thief.
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aaliyahmusa
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2017
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Original story loved it
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E Sawyer
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2014
Verified Purchase
I read this after i was recommended Midnight Theif in an email. I don't normally like short stories or novellas, but this one really set the scene well and was a good story too. For anyone that enjoyed Sarah J Maas' "Throne of Glass" books, you will love this. Can't wait for the next book to come out.
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Bella
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2014
Verified Purchase
This was a nice change and I really enjoyed it,two customs but they mixed in really well,a good read
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