William made one mistake: he killed the wrong man.
Now, blacklisted from The Guild and abandoned by his friends, he is running out of options. Raised as a killer and knowing no other life, he is willing to risk it all for redemption.

In the lawless city of Blackbile, The Empire's most formidable killers gather for The Man-Butcher Prize. To enter, a contender must pledge their life, and only one may emerge victorious.

With the most competitors ever, two former champions returning, and the arrival of William's estranged mentor, this year's Prize is set to be the most deadly yet. As the list of enemies grows, William's slim chances dwindle, and anything less than victory will find him in an early grave.

Names are made and the dead pile high in this brutally entertaining gunpowder fantasy from author Charles X. Cross.

Critic's Praise for The Man-Butcher Prize

"The Man-Butcher Prize is one of the most original, imaginative and engaging fantasy novels that I have read in the genre in a very long time" - The Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer

"What a Book!!!! This is definitely full of action, adventure and of course some gore. A must read for anyone that is into a fantasy series full of everything that you would want in a book." ★★★★★ - Linda's World of Books