Rafe sits for his exams and a desperate city seeks substitutes for chocolate.

Diane's secret arrangement with the Balam family bears fruit as a strategic withholding of chocolate wreaks havoc on the city's social fabric, from the Hill to Riverside. But Kaab has her own private stash, for which she has a special use in mind, involving a certain pretty forger. Meanwhile, Rafe sits for his exams, with his dreams of starting his own school hanging in the balance. Diane ploys all her wit and wiles upon the Dragon Chancellor.

This episode is brought to you by Alaya Dawn Johnson, who takes her chocolate with a dusting of chili powder and not so much as a smidgen of cream.

“A City Without Chocolate” continues the 13-part serial,
Tremontaine
, presented by Serial Box. This prequel to the cult classic Swordspoint is brought to you by the collaborative effort of a team of writers under the creative direction of Ellen Kushner herself.

Join the dance of swordplay and scandal, week after week, on Serial Box.com.

And don’t forget to share the love! If you’re enjoying Tremontaine, help us get the word out by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and Tumblr, and telling your friends about us! We’d also love to hear what you think so please give us a review!

“Sharp blades and even sharper wits abound! Delicious new adventures await fans in this welcome return to the world of Swordspoint.”
– Jacqueline Carey, New York Times Bestselling author of the Kushiel’s Legacy series

“Lovely! Beneath a froth of silk and lace Tremontaine is finely muscled, rippling with skill and promise.”
– Nicola Griffith, author of Hild

“More Tremontaine stories? YESPLEASE. Tremontaine stories by some of my favorite, excellent writers? HELLA YESPLEASE. I can't wait to read them all! ”
– N. K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Kingdom

“A pure delight full of sparkling characters that match equally dazzling wits and swords. If you've visited the world of Swordspoint before, you'll be delighted to return; if it's your first time, you'll be welcomed in style. I can't wait to read more myself!”
– Naomi Novaik, author of Uprooted

Reader Reviews

HornFan2

(4/5)

Apr 30, 2024

What a change from the last installment! Malinda Lo actually can write with a style that flows well together, no wasted words, as she overloads 'A City Without Chocolate' with important events, that adds more suspense to the on gooding storyline and it fits well with the rest of the installments to the story. Really like her writing style a lot definitely will have to give some of her other writing a try and it's one of the reasons why I decided to read the Tremontaine series. Typical of someone...

Christine

What happens when people don't have chocolate? They try to drink vanilla. It doesn't quite work. I love Lo's writing.

Corrie

(5/5)

Onwards with episode eight (Season One) of Tremontaine titled A City Without Chocolate written by Malinda Lo.A shortage of chocolate sets the city on edge.Diane's secret arrangement with the Balam family bears fruit as a strategic withholding of chocolate wreaks havoc on the city's social fabric, from the Hill to Riverside. But Kaab has her own private stash, for which she has a special use in mind, involving a certain pretty forger. Meanwhile, Rafe sits for his exams, with his dreams of startin...

Andrea D. McCarthage

I'm burning through all of Riverside this autumn.This one is great, and manages to salvage the writing disaster that was episode seven by moving swiftly into the wake of the in-story disaster that was the Swan Ball. The portrayal of the City and its inhabitants as they scramble to endure and work around the chocolate shortage is amusing, and evocative of certain coffee hysterias of the past. We have nutty surrogates being developed, cocoa-deprived addicts taking to drugs, and the Duchess introdu...

Jason

AmazingThe Tremontaine series continues to go from strength to strength. The plot continues to thicken, as the various strands of the story get further entangled.

Just_ann_now

Oh, wow. Diane is really on top of her game today. Excellent episode!

Althea Ann

(3/5)

In this episode, more plots and underhanded dealings are revealed, with a side of romance. (view spoiler)[Diane, Duchess of Tremontaine colludes with the Balam chocolate importers to create a false shortage of the trendy beverage, even as she uses her wiles in an illicit affair in order to try to get the import tariffs changed in a way that will favor her estates.Meanwhile, we are treated to some sexytimes with Tess and Kaab. But little do the two young women realize the imminent danger they're

Julia

Lady Diane and the Balam aren’t distributing chocolate—and many miss it terribly. One of the chocolatiers near the university makes an almond drink, another tries expensive vanilla. The Balam do this because they are trying to get the Dragon Chancellor to remove the punishing tariffs. Lady Diane, is doing it, at least in part, because she can. Rafe is sitting for his Exams. Will has made sure one of the examiners is a retired professor, who will understand his subject matter. He passes. Now he w...

Teleseparatist

Well, I do think at this point I'm finally invested in the story, and the focus on Kaab was welcome (although I'm not quite sold on the shipping here). Add to that the interesting theme this time around and the relative absence of Micah and Rafe and we have a really good episode that I wish actually lasted longer.And now I'm seriously craving hot chocolate.Onto the next.(Netgalley let me read this in exchange for my honest review.)

Sidsel Pedersen

much better and of course read with hot chocolate

Karly

My faaaavorite

Kate

brilliant Diane chapter

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A City Without Chocolate

A City Without Chocolate

A City Without Chocolate

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