“Traitor’s Blade” by Sebastien De Castell
Why I Checked It Out: Three best friends, roaming the kingdom, looking for justice and purpose? With swords? I’m in.
What It’s About: In the European-esque, medieval setting, the Greatcoats greatly resemble Jedi Knights. These men and women are skilled warriors, but they are more concerned with upholding the King’s Law and keeping peace among all the ambitious dukes and duchesses of the land. Or at least they were, until the death of the King and the end of his enlightened law.
Now Falcio, Kest, Brasti and the rest of the Greatcoats are disgraced and scattered, taking what work they can and struggling to finish the enigmatic final tasks left to them by the King.
Why I Recommend It: I read this book in a day. And then I could not start another book because I was convinced nothing would be as good.
The story begins by launching the reader directly into the action and never really lets up. The reader learns of the rise of the King, the formation of the Greatcoats and their subsequent fall, all through flashbacks that span the entirely of the book. These flashbacks are well-timed and an excellent device. By the time you learn how the King died, you care for him as much as Falcio did, and his loss is all the more heartbreaking.
While there is plenty of death and loss in “Traitor’s Blade,” and Falcio and the others have definitely been shaped by tragedy, the book is not dark. De Castell has crafted a fun read, filled with smart humor and likeable characters. There are intricate political intrigues and swashbuckling adventures. The action scenes are incredibly descriptive, owing to the author’s training as a fight choreographer.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced adventure with well-rounded characters and hint of magic, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Warning: This is the first book in a quartet, but luckily for us all, the second book is already out.
What To Read Next:
“Theft of Swords” by Michael J. Sullivan
“The Three Musketeers” by Alexander Dumas
“Storm Front” by Jim Butcher
