Traitor's Blade (The Greatcoats): The Greatcoats Book 1

First book in a new fantasy series. This isn't quite as big a novel as most of that kind, coming in at three hundred and seventy pages. It has a map of the setting at the front. It's divided into thirty chapters. Being the start of a series means that it ends with a lot still to be resolved. It does have some violence, a few bits of strong language. And some scenes of an adult nature. The setting is a land called Tristia. Home to Falcio. Who narrates the entire story in first person present tense. He was once a member of the Greatcoats. People who are basically travelling magistrates, who travelled the land to deliver the King's justice when required. All Greatcoats are superb warriors and people of honour. But that was before the Duke's had the King brought down. And the Greatcoats were forced to do something that has left them utterly hated by people across the Land. Years later, Falcio and two of his comrades are still together. Pursuing what appears to be a hopeless quest. But there's still far more going in Tristia than initially meets the eye, and the Greatcoats might still have a role to play... This is one of those books that drops you right into the middle of things, and gradually fills in the details as it goes along. There are occasional flashbacks to key past moments in Falcio's life which do that. And yet, perhaps because we only ever see things via his narration, you're never for a single moment lost or confused. The writing grabs from the off with some good solid readable prose and never lets up. Falcio is an easy character to like. A man trying very hard to keep his honour and to keep doing the right thing. His comrades are well drawn and likeable also. The setting becomes interesting as the details are filled in. Although most use swords and arrows there are rudimentary firearms, and some rather oblique magic. It throws in, via the actions of it's lead, some good moral lessons, and some moments that might make you want to punch the air in delight. This is the kind of book that makes you want to read 'just one more chapter.' There is a much bigger picture going on which slowly becomes apparent. At times it does feel, because of this, that Falcio isn't driving the narrative as much as he should. But this isn't a real problem because he's always trying to be proactive. And come the last seventy pages, when a great few surprises await, and all becomes clear, any such concerns are allayed. This is a superb debut. Very well written, and very readable. With great characters. And a really good plot. There's an incredible amount to like about it, and I enjoyed reading it very much. Roll on book two.

This is a swashbuckling piece of heroic fantasy, set in the fictional kingdom of Tristia, which is made up of eight Duchies and Aramor, the “home of Kings”. The King has been executed by the Dukes and their Knights five years before this story begins. He has not been replaced and the Greatcoats, the fighting judges that he had recreated to curb the arbitrary rule of the Dukes, have been disbanded and more or less outlawed. Even since, the Kingdom has descended into mayhem as its laws are no longer enforced and the arbitrary rule and the ambitions of each Duke increasingly prevail. The story is told in what is a gripping and very entertaining way, with chapters alternating between now and the past, when King Paenis was still alive. In addition to keeping up suspense, something at which Sebastien de Castell is rather good at, this allows the reader to understand little by little how Tristia got into such an awful situation, and how, because of the conspiracy of some of the Dukes, it got get even worse. Another feature that worked rather well for me was to have the story told in the first person. This does not always work and some readers tend to dislike first-person story telling. It does here, however, with the story told by Falcio Val Mond, the former First Cantor (and therefore Chief) of the Greatcoats, who was also the friend, the confidant and the right-hand man of the King, and shared his dream and his ideals of justice. A third set of features relate to characterisation. The character of Falcio is quite remarkably drawn, with his ideals, but also his hidden wounds that take him to extremes, and he is presented in such a way that it is hard not to empathise with him. He is, of course, and just like his two companions Kest and Brasti, a master at arms, and, in his case, a duellist that few if any can outmatch with a rapier, apart, possibly, from his childhood friend Kest. The other characters are also mostly good, including that of the cynical, cruel and very “nasty” Duke of Rijou (not that the other Duke and the Duchess which appear in the book are any better!). This is perhaps where I might have a first – slight – reservation with this book. The “nasties” are perhaps a bit too awful to be entirely credible, especially the Duchess of Hervor. Yet another element which worked well for me was that this story, which seems to be set in a fictional equivalent of the late 15th or early 16th century in Europe (Knights in plate armour, but also Greatcoats with rapiers, crossbows and bows, but also the odd pistol), was that the author makes sparing use of magic. There is a bit of it, mostly used as tracking devices. There is also a rather extraordinary animal, of which I will say no more to avoid spoilers. There are even a couple of characters with supernatural powers, such as a Saint of the Sword, but, by and large, the use of magic is limited and does not dominate the whole story, as it sometimes does elsewhere. What do dominate the whole story are the multiple fights and duels that the Greatcoats get themselves into: a cross between the three musketeers of Alexandre Dumas and of “Once upon a time in the West” from Sergio Leone. It is quite easy to imagine them with their great leather coats reinforced with armour and containing multiple pockets filled with all sorts of weapons, fighting rapiers (or bow) in hand against late medieval knights and foot-soldiers. This action-packed book almost masked the fact that the author’s world-building is perhaps a bit weak and seems to take a bit of a “back-seat”. Apart perhaps from the murderous city of Rijou and “the Spear”, the almost interminable and mostly straight caravan road that crosses the whole continent from South to North through endless forests, the rest of the world is only subject to minimal (and often only generic) description. So this is certainly a very entertaining read and a superb first book for this author and it will certainly lead me to read the next instalment. However, it does not quite rate five stars for me.

I am not normally a stupidly fast reader, but I had this book finished in a couple of days. From the first page to the last I found myself hooked. The world was built well, despite not showing a great deal of it. The characters were fleshed out nicely and there was a wide array of them to flesh out. I had characters I loved, characters I felt genuinely sorry for and, more importantly, villains that I wanted to stick with the pointy end of a sword myself (that’s the first law of the sword, don’t you know). The Greatcoats (well, the three the book focuses on, there are a great deal more of them), the king’s travelling magisters, are essentially the Three Musketeers if the Musketeers lived in a time where gods, saints, and magic were real things that could physically harm or help you. The story is told from the perspective of Falcio Val Mond First Cantor of the Greatcoats but, unlike most stories written in first person, it isn’t actually penned by Falcio. It’s penned by a priest who has the magical ability to know everything about a person (that isn’t really a spoiler as it tells you in the first couple of pages). This means that you never truly know if Falcio will live or die as, in theory, that priest will be needing to tell of his death at some point. Sebastien de Castell’s writing style is what hooks you first. There’s a lot of humour in his writing, perhaps more so than action. It keeps you burning through the pages as it’s ridiculously easy reading. He also has a habit of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. In me, because of his writing style and storytelling skills, de Castell has found a fan for life. I look forward to exploring more of the Greatcoats’ world and the wide cast of characters that is sure to inhabit it. If I was to say a slight negative, it is that sometimes the continuity could be a tad better. One instance being where a character is knocked out. Much is said about him being unconscious. Yet he’s up a second later without any mention of him coming to. It’s only a small niggle and, considering the story is being told from Falcio’s viewpoint, I just assume that he didn’t see the character get back up and into the swing of things. Other than that, the only negative for me was that I did not discover this series sooner. And that I have a bit more on my TBR list to get through before I can dive into the second book My verdict is that you should buy this book. Buy it now! It’s a fantastic read and one that any fantasy fan would kick themselves for not reading sooner than they eventually do.

Blog Review: I loved this book. I loved the idea of the Greatcoats and the Greatcoats themselves. Kest, Brasti and poor, poor Falcio. But mostly...mostly I loved the king. I loved him because Falcio loved him and because he loved Falcio, he loved his country and he even loved the people who are rejoicing in his death. I love how smart he was and how clever, though we don't quite know yet EXACTLY how clever he was and how he said he wasn't wise, when he was the wisest of them all. I hope we get to see more of him in the other books, I hope that the talks about prequels go ahead and we get to meet him properly and I hope that eventually, they can convince the world just how much he loved them all because I hate that they hate him when he was trying to save them. Tailor is also an interesting character, we learn a lot about her through the story, but there is certainly more to know! But I can't talk more about her because she's a little surprising. On the whole, the book was both heart breaking and full of fun. The Dukes are varying degrees of awful and what they do, what they believe is their RIGHT to do is just horrid. Not to mention, what Falcio has lived and lost is phenomenal. But his friends and their banter, as well as Falcio's own, is just hilarious. I'd love to quote the whole book if I could. It's told in first person, from Falcio's point of view and while he admits to some of his skills, he tends to tell it like it is, while he's got some skill with the sword he fully admits that Kest is far superior, for example, I think he doesn't quite realise just how much everyone looks up to him and just how much influence he's had, not only when he first met the king, but with everyone he's met since. He is just himself, but he stands his ground and I think that effects people more than he realises. I said while reading it that it reminded me of The musketeers, skilled fighters bantering their way about the place, writing wrongs etc, but the further I got into the story, the more The Greatcoats actually reminded me of the Heralds from Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series. I don't mean that they were similar all over. Though they have a similar occupation, what made the comparison, at least for me, was their moral standing. It wasn't just their job, it was who they were and they stay on that moral ground even when it was an impossible path to follow and turning away would be easier. They were fully prepared to give up their lives for their cause because they believed that there were worse things than death. Both groups demand respect from the reader, perhaps because they don't get it from those around them. As clever as the king was, I'm betting the ways of his Greatcoats are just genius. We've seen a few of their skills so far and they can only get better. I have to admit, I've ordered the book in hardback...having read it as a kindle book. I do this, the best books, I have to own in a hardback copy so that I can see it and it's MINE...

I really enjoyed this book. Picked it up on my Kindle and could barely put it down. I am not sure whether it is a "debut book" by the author but I think it is. Personally I think it is better than Rothfuss/Dalglish/Scull/Hoffman/Gwynne/Ryan's recent "debut efforts." Not to put them down as they all have written good novels - particularly Rothfuss and Ryan. There is something in this book and story though that I like. It does nothing particularly new or different - hence not 5 stars - but what it does in a very "typical fantasy" kind of way it does very well. The bad guys are particularly loathsome but cunning, the good guys flawed but decent. The characters are well written, the pace and tempo about right and the story itself engaging. It does not try to be too clever, I could see some of the "twists" coming but that is a good thing in some cases and where it is really good is that it maintains focus on the lead character unlike many of the GRR Martin spin offs who insist on multiple points of view. It is just a very assured book that won't change your life but will want you looking for the next instalment.

This was a weird one for me, I almost gave up on it a few times but persevered and made it through. I enjoyed it despite a few moments where I thought the protagonist made it through some impossible situations with very weird coincidence and epic good fortune, and the explanations given didnt do justice in my humble opinion. The young lady was also difficult to get on board with having just endured a horrifying ordeal and smokey lungs but provides a concise and clear explanation of what just happened to her. From one paragraph to the next she is either a scared victim or provides wonderful adult clarity and perspective beyond her years. Enjoyable but flawed. I'll still read the others because the humour of the greatcloacks covers many a sin

Traitor's Blade is the debut novel by the immensely talented Sebastien de Castell. Many of my friends are racing through and really enjoying Greatcoats so I decided to jump on the bandwagon to see what all the fuss is about. The Greatcoats were the King's elite soldiers simply named after their attire. They acted as magistrates, upheld the King's law and helped keep peace throughout the land. This was until they stepped aside when a battle loomed and allowed the execution of the King at the hands of the Duke's. Following this catastrophic event which led to the King's decapitation and his head placed on a spike, The Greatcoat's disbanded and are seen now as traitor's. We mainly follow three of the remaining Greatcoats through the first person perspective of their former leader, Falcio. These companions are highly reminiscent of Dumas's Three Musketeers and each has unequaled martial qualities... arguably the lands best swordsman, the world's greatest archer etc... In addition to being dashing, well-dressed and chivalrous, the three companions have very different personalities and their friendship, camaraderie and banter are excellent. Honour and the need to do good is discussed and debated throughout. The world is now a corrupt place and Traitor's Blade incorporates plenty of scumbags, violence, chaos, deceit and uncertainty. In particular, there is one scene that could be seen as being very upsetting. For quite a short fantasy volume, this narrative features a large and diverse supporting cast without ever feeling overwhelming and confusing. Notable mentions go to the torturer, Ugh and the young noble lady, Aline. In similar fashion to many fantasy book debuts, the story and main protagonist are given extra layers using neatly placed flashback sections. These are normally quite short but highlight important occasions in Falcio's past so that we can fully understand his views and motives in the present. The Greatcoats were assigned the last mission just before the death of the King. Find the charoites. The only issue is that no one has any idea what they are other than that they are incredibly important and valuable. I honestly have nothing negative to say about Traitor's Blade. I lapped up the whole book in only two days. It was a fun read but that doesn't distract from the fact this is a pretty horrific world where honour and total control/harassment seem to have become confused in the eyes of the ruling Duke's. This is a thrilling and moving debut outing in a superbly crafted yet horrendous fantasy world. The action scenes are great but the greatest asset here is the story's characters and I cannot wait to read more about Falcio et al and see what adventures they get themselves into in the next three books. Chances are that most people reading this review will be aware of this excellent series as I was late to the buddy reading party but if you haven't, definitely check it out. A magnificent first book.

Picked this up on a whim. Glad I did it was the most enjoyable read I've had for quite a while. Have since picked up and read the two sequels as well, and am looking forward to the forthcoming fourth in the series. The Good: Really well written, engaging prose. Very interesting and likeable main character. Great setting and storyline. Just genuinely very enjoyable! The Bad: Alas, marred a little by being overly male-gazy. Ie, all the women are beautiful, and some like to strip off and get naked for no reason whatsoever. Main love interest falls in love with main character at first sight for no apparent reason (although she does go on to become an interesting character later on). I really wanted to give this 5 stars, but it does sadly lose one for the overt male gaze. But if you can tolerate that, this series is well worth reading. :)

Haven’t enjoyed a book as much in ages. Great story and characters and lots of unexpected twists. I highly recommend it.

I loved this book. If you like great characters, camaraderie, and a fun story, buy it. Read it. Now, on to book two in the series!

Awesome book. Loved it. Paper quality is good. Dont miss the series

Libro terribilmente divertente, impossibile da chiudere finché non lo si è terminato (sì ho fatto le ore piccole), che ha comunque qualche pecca non indifferente. Un re idealista in un mondo corrotto vuole ristabilire la legge e la giustizia, e lo fa ripristinando l'ordine dei Greatcoat, i suoi uomini più fidati, magistrati combattenti che girano il paese ascoltando la gente e aiutandola al meglio delle possibilità. Ma tutte le cose belle hanno un termine, le persone giuste di solito fanno una brutta fine, e infatti il re viene giustiziato dai nobili (i Duchi) e i suoi fedelissimi Greatcoat obbligati alla resa e alla vergogna. Ma c'è chi non si è mai arreso... L'autore, attraverso la narrazione in prima persona del protagonista principale, riesce a coinvolgere il lettore, a divertirlo, persino a commuoverlo, nonostante la non poca retorica (messa giù bene però) e i roboanti ideali. L'ironia, i dialoghi affilati come le lame dei protagonisti, aiutano. Per quanto improbabile, la vicenda scorre e ci presenta una serie di personaggi che, se non originali, sono ben delineati e di cui ci importa (almeno a me). E' solo l'inizio di una storia che promette di ampliarsi e complicarsi e che, una volta chiuso il libro, fa venir voglia di cominciare il secondo... Detto questo, devo ammettere che la facilità con cui i nostri tre eroi, Falcio soprattutto, riescono a vincere qualsiasi avversario, farebbe invidia ad Iron Man. Troppi duelli, troppi scontri, che comunque l'autore descrive in modo efficace (essendo un appassionato di scherma), ma che in un libro non hanno lo stesso effetto che, ad esempio, in un telefilm. Inoltre, se sappiamo già che qualsiasi sia il nemico, qualsiasi sia la situazione, i nostri eroi se la caveranno sempre e quasi senza neanche un graffio, la storia perde di suspense. Se George RR Martin avesse fatto così, le sue Cronache avrebbero avuto lo stesso successo? Non credo. E' ovvio che de Castell non vuole imitare Martin, anzi, vuole fare il contrario, ma mi auguro che nei prossimi libri possa concedersi un po' più di realismo, almeno in questo. Per il resto, si tratta di un romanzo d'esordio ben fatto, ma c'è un margine di miglioramento e di approfondimento. Quindi bene, vediamo poi come procede. Ah, dimenticavo: indipendentemente da tutto, ho trovato impossibile non innamorarmi dei tre "moschettieri" e del loro disperato idealismo, un po' masochistico ma con anche una punta di amaro.

Um bom livro que nos prende do princípio ao fim ..com uma boa narrativa … é um nível de inglês acessível e de fácil compreensão..