The Privilege of the Sword is a fantasy novel by American author Ellen Kushner.
Katherine Talbert, a young country girl from good origin, is invited by her uncle, the Mad Duke of Riverside, to come as a guest to his house in the capital, where he decides it would be more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to marriage.
She was always told that the Duke hated her family, so when he makes her look ridiculous in front of the city by letting her dress like a boy and swing a sword, Katherine is determined not to let him ruin her future.
The Privilege of the Sword was well received by critics, winning the 2007 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
[4] Robert N. Tilendis from Green Man Review said in his review, "If it predecessor Swordspoint is a perfect gem, The Privilege of the Sword is the gem in its full setting: elegant, wicked, funny, intelligent, and fluent.