Green is a 2009 novel by Jay Lake.
It tells the story of Emerald/Green, a peasant girl turned slave turned assassin. Sold into slavery by her father as a child and trained as a courtesan, Emerald is caught up in a complex web of politics, and comes to learn that in this life she can only rely on herself and her own skills.
If she is to have any hope of freedom, she must learn to survive in this world of court intrigue and hidden violence.
For the novel by Laura Payton Robert see Green (2011)
Tropes
- Ambiguously Bi: Green's only romance is with another woman, but she occasionally seems interested in men as well.
- Gilded Cage: Being pampered and trained to serve as a courtesan for the Duke, Emerald has many luxuries but cannot do anything on her own.
- Lessons in Sophistication: Emerald is among several girls being trained to serve as a lady in hopes that the Duke will choose them as his latest courtesan.
- Made a Slave: Green is sold into slavery by her own father after the death of her mother.
- Mayfly–December Romance: The Duke is immortal and occasionally chooses a new wife from a set of beautiful young girls trained for that purpose.
- Meaningful Rename: Green is involuntarily named "Emerald" by the court- she eventually chooses the name "Green" for herself.
- Professional Killer: After she escapes from the court, Green enters an all-female clan of professional killers, who train her as an assassin.
