To Clutch a Razor, page 17
Lindsey Hall, for saying “Hell yes!” to another Dymitr/Ala/Niko story and for helping me get it in tip-top shape. Aislyn Fredsall and Hannah Smoot, for the same (and for keeping me on track!). Zan Romanoff, for your thoughtful feedback and our excellent brainstorming sessions.
Joanna Volpe and Jordan Hill, my agent ports in a storm. I’m glad to weather it with you.
At Tor: Rachel Taylor, Eileen Lawrence, Emily Mlynek, Sarah Reidy, Harper Bullard, Stephanie Sirabian, Megan Barnard, Andrew Beasley, Becky Yeager, Yvonne Ye, Rafal Gibek, Dakota Griffin, Steven Bucsok, Michelle Foytek, Alex Cameron, Lizzy Hosty, Erin Robinson, Alexa Best, Will Hinton, Claire Eddy, Christina MacDonald, Kyle Avery, Marielle Issa, Lucille Rettino, and Devi Pillai. All of you give these novellas such a wonderful home.
Elishia Merricks and everyone else at Macmillan Audio who worked on the audiobook. Special shout to the voice actors who brought it to life: Helen Laser, James Fouhey, and Tim Campbell.
Katie Klimowicz, Shreya Gupta, Heather Saunders, for making this book so beautiful, inside and out. And of course, Eleonor Piteira, whose amazing art has graced both covers. I’m very lucky.
At New Leaf: Lindsay Howard, Kwali Liggons, Tracy Williams, Keifer Ludwig, Sarah Gerton, Hilary Pecheone, Eileen Lalley, Kim Rogers, Joe Volpe, Donna Yee, Gabby Benjamin, and Katherine Curtis. You all give me such a wonderful home in publishing.
Kristin Dwyer, for your continued enthusiasm and expertise. Molly Mitchell, for the same. Adele Gregory-Yao, for being a little island of order in the chaotic sea of my brain.
Magdalena Chuchro, for being a big help with all things Polish. Courtney Summers, for being such a smart and enthusiastic reader when I needed one. S, Maurene, Sarah, Laurie, Kaitlin, Amy, Kate, Michelle, Kara, Diya, Jen, Morgan, and all the other writers in my life. All the authors who offered When Among Crows their blurbs (and all other sources of enthusiasm!). My family, for supporting me.
One of the things this series has done for me is helped me to connect to other people with Polish heritage, whether more distant than mine or far closer. Sometimes this is humbling, as I realize how much I don’t know, so a big dziękuje for being patient with my mistakes and for celebrating this wonderful folklore with me.
ALSO BY VERONICA ROTH
When Among Crows
Arch-Conspirator
Chosen Ones
Poster Girl
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
VERONICA ROTH is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and Four: A Divergent Collection), the Carve the Mark duology (Carve the Mark, The Fates Divide), the collection of short fiction The End and Other Beginnings, Chosen Ones, Arch-Conspirator, When Among Crows, and many short stories and essays. She lives in Chicago. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraph
1. A Prelude
2. A Family Meal
3. A New Hunt
4. A Desperate Plea
5. A Puzzle Solved
6. A Full Bottle
7. A Chance Encounter
8. A Bargain Struck
9. A Family Reunion
10. A Feast for the Dead
11. A Restless Spirit
12. A Tale of Twins
13. A Song for the Dead
14. A Tense Conversation
15. A Scream in the Night
16. A Perfect Reflection
17. A Feint
18. A Razor’s Edge
19. A Whiff of Perfume
20. A Parting Shot
21. A Meeting of Sisters
22. An Airplane Movie
23. A Bone Sword
24. A Last Demand
25. A Stone for Two Birds
Acknowledgments
Also by Veronica Roth
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novella are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
TO CLUTCH A RAZOR
Copyright © 2025 by Veronica Roth
All rights reserved.
Cover illustration by Eleonor Piteira
Cover design by Katie Klimowicz and Shreya Gupta
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates / Tor Publishing Group
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New York, NY 10271
www.torpublishinggroup.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-85550-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-85551-0 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250855510
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First Edition: 2025
1 A drowning man will clutch at a razor.
Veronica Roth, To Clutch a Razor
