Knight's Shadow (The Greatcoats), by Sebastien de Castell
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Knight's Shadow (The Greatcoats), by Sebastien de Castell
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Following his beloved debut, Traitor's Blade, Sebastien de Castell returns with volume two of his fast-paced fantasy adventure series, inspired by the swashbuckling action and witty banter of The Three Musketeers. Knight's Shadow continues the series with a thrilling and dark tale of heroism and betrayal in a country crushed under the weight of its rulers' corruption.A few days after the horrifying murder of a duke and his family, Falcio val Mond, swordsman and First Cantor of the Greatcoats, begins a deadly pursuit to capture the killer. But Falcio soon discovers his own life is in mortal danger from a poison administered as a final act of revenge by one of his deadliest enemies. As chaos and civil war begin to overtake the country, Falcio has precious little time left to stop those determined to destroy his homeland.
Knight's Shadow (The Greatcoats), by Sebastien de Castell- Amazon Sales Rank: #80066 in Books
- Brand: Jo Fletcher Books
- Published on: 2015-06-02
- Released on: 2015-06-02
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 9.50" h x 2.00" w x 6.50" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 400 pages
Review Praise for Traitor's Blade (A Library Journal Best Debut):"Traitor's Blade is a swashbuckling romp packed with charisma, camaraderie, quick wit and even quicker swordplay. That said, it's far from candy-coated - and it packs some serious substance . . . darkness is served up deliciously in Traitor's Blade - only de Castell uses it as the sauce, not the soup . . . What makes the book truly sing, though, is its rich historical backdrop . . . De Castell's fight scenes are as sumptuously detailed as the world Falcio inhabits. . . In its own way, Traitor's Blade is as grim and dark as the edgiest fantasy series on the shelves. It's also shot through with heroics, hope and a dazzling aptitude for fun."―Jason Heller, NPR"Like the sword its disgraced protagonist carries, Traitor's Blade is short and sharp and smart, and very well wielded, really . . . With a tip of his hat at Alexandre Dumas, Sebastien de Castell make a fine first impression in this entertaining debut."―Tor"The best Musketeers trope since Dumas's original . . . Fights are well-thought out as de Castell is a former "fight choreographer" (I dare you to put that on your tax return). Fighting, swordplay, and escaping from same form most of the action alongside ten kinds of witty banter, bravado and brio- make no mistake, this is a fun read. The light tone is challenged by ruthless villains, especially Duchess Patriana who, though truly repugnant, is as notably well-constructed as other female characters. An energetic, fun adventure that puts the 'musk' back in 'musketeer.' Guaranteed to increase household swashbuckling by 100%."―Library Journal"Sebastien De Castell manages to wring every heart wrenching moment and ounce of anticipation from every scene, his fight scenes contain dark humor, explosive action and a great awareness of the art of sword fighting, all of which has you hanging on the edge of every page. (There are also some truly laugh out loud moments in this book.) . . . An exceptional book and series . . . this book is clearly going to be a stand out title."―Parmenion Books Praise for Knight's Shadow:"The shocking ending left my completely stunned . . . Knight's Shadow is the best book I have read this year so far and I'm not sure anything coming out this year can hope to top it!"―The Arched Doorway"How wonderful it is to be back into this world . . . wildly entertaining . . . Greatcoats is now up there on my list of favorite fantasy series, and I never miss a chance to recommend it to my fellow readers and friends."―Bibliosanctum"[Knight's Shadow] will blow you away . . . Sebastien de Castell has really, really outdone himself. . . I probably will have to wait another year for the third book in the series but it is definitely worth the wait. The Greatcoats series should be on every reading list."― The Book Plank "Traitor's Blade was one of the most enjoyable fantasy debuts of the last year . . . both stem from a time when fantasy was just plain fun and promised quests and excitement, when you opened a book expecting to be entertained . . . It's easy to love de Castell's work . . . readable fantasy at its finest."―Upcoming4me "This is fast, fantastic fun--and it has an excellent character piece wrapped inside it . . . a great read, and very much a worthy sequel."― Sci-fi and Fantasy Reviews "Ends on a satisfying conclusion that nevertheless leaves room for the story to continue in Saint's Blood."―Starburst Magazine"This sequel to de Castell's debut, Traitor's Blade, manages to defeat the second book curse and is just as lively, engaging, and action packed as its predecessor. A must-read for fans of Michael Sullivan and Mark Lawrence, this book will have broad appeal to both teen and adult readers of swashbuckling heroic fantasy."―Library Journal"My love for the first book could have been a fluke, but this second book has cemented my love for the series before it has even finished. It was so invigorating to go on this dangerous, and sometimes painful, but ultimately satisfying adventure with Falcio, Kest, Brasti and the rest of the Greatcoats. This is a series I recommend everyone to read!"―My Bookish Whimsy"This time around we get a much more up close and personal look into not just Falcio but Kest and Brasti as well. It was what I was hoping for and I was not disappointed!"―Not Yet Read"De Castell's superb writing and pacing result in a headlong rush of excitement to the very last page . . . Like Joe Abercrombie, Sebastien de Castell excels at creating characters who give their all in service to a cause, even if it destroys them. The twists and turns make Knight's Shadow a page-turner in the truest, most satisfactory sense of the term."―Jim Basile, The Oklahoman
About the Author Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in archaeology when he started work on his first job. Four hours later he realized how much he hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. These interests and experiences provided fodder for his burgeoning writing career. He lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife and is director of strategic program development at the Vancouver Film School.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
1
The Waiting Game
I can count on one hand the number of times in my adult life when I’ve awakened peacefully and happily, without either fear of imminent death or sufficient annoyance to make me want to murder someone else. The morning four weeks after Patriana, Duchess of Hervor had poisoned me was not one of those times.
“He’s dead.”
Despite the fog clogging my head and dulling the sounds in my ears, I recognized Brasti’s voice.
“He’s not dead,” said another, slightly deeper voice. That one belonged to Kest.
The light thump-thump of Brasti’s footsteps on the wooden floor of the cottage grew louder. “Usually he comes out of it by now. I’m telling you, this time he’s dead. Look: he’s barely breathing.”
A finger prodded at my chest, then my cheek, then my eye.
You might be wondering why I didn’t simply stab Brasti and go back to sleep; first, my rapiers were ten feet away, lying on a bench next to the door of the small cottage we occupied. Second, I couldn’t move.
“Stop poking at him,” Kest said. “Barely breathing still means alive.”
“Which is another thing,” Brasti said. “Neatha’s supposed to be fatal.” I imagined him wagging his finger at me. “We’re all happy you survived it, Falcio, but this lying about each morning is highly inconvenient behavior. One might even call it selfish.”
Despite my repeated attempts, my hands refused to reach out and wrap themselves around Brasti’s throat.
The first week after I’d been poisoned, I’d noticed a slight weakness in my limbs—I moved more slowly than usual. Sometimes I’d try to move my hand and it would take a second before it would obey. But instead of getting better, the condition had gradually worsened and I found myself imprisoned in my own body for longer and longer each morning after I awoke.
A hand on my chest pressed down with a great deal of pressure: Brasti was leaning on me. “But Kest, I think you have to agree that Falcio is largely dead.”
There was another pause and I knew Kest was considering the matter. The problem with Brasti is that he’s an idiot. He’s handsome and charming; he can outshoot any man or woman with a bow, and he’s an idiot. Oh, you wouldn’t think so at first; he’s a fine conversationalist and uses many words that sound like the sort of words smart people use. He just doesn’t use them in the right context. Or even the right order.
The problem with Kest, though, is that while he is extremely intelligent, he thinks that “being philosophical” requires giving any idea due consideration, even if it’s utterly nonsensical and being uttered by the aforementioned idiot.
“I suppose,” Kest said finally, and then redeemed himself marginally by adding, “But wouldn’t it be more correct to say he’s somewhat alive?”
More silence. Did I mention that the two fools in question are my best friends, fellow Greatcoats, and the men I was counting on to protect me in case the Lady Trin picked that precise moment to send her Knights after us?
I suppose I should get used to calling her Duchess Trin now. After all, I’d killed her mother, Patriana (yes, the one who’d poisoned me)—in my defense, I was trying to protect the King’s heir at the time. I suspect that’s the real source of Trin’s grievance with me, as the presence of a genuine monarch gets in the way of her scheme to take the throne for herself.
“He’s still not moving,” Brasti said. “I really think he might be dead this time.” I felt his hand brush a rather private part of my body and realized he was searching my pockets for money—which Proves yet again that hiring a former poacher to be a traveling magistrate
had not necessarily been one of the King’s best ideas. “We’re out of food, by the way,” he said. “I thought those damned villagers were supposed to be bringing us supplies.”
“Be grateful they’re letting us hide here in the first place,” Kest said placidly. “Feeding more than a hundred Greatcoats is a heavy burden for a village this small. Besides, they did bring food—from their winter caches in the mountains, just a few minutes ago. The Tailor’s managing distribution.”
“Then why don’t I hear brats running around screaming and annoying us, asking to borrow our swords—or worse, play with my bows?”
“Perhaps they heard you complaining? They left their families in the mountains this morning.”
“Well, that’s something anyway.”
I felt Brasti’s fingers pulling the lid of my right eye back, and white light blinded me. Then the fingers went away and the light disappeared.
“How long until Falcio’s mostly alive and no longer entirely useless? I mean, what happens when Trin’s Knights learn about this? Or Dashini assassins? Or anyone else, for that matter?” Brasti’s voice was growing more anxious as he spoke. “You name any group of people out there who know how to kill a man horribly and I’ll bet you good gold that Falcio’s made an enemy of them. Any one of them could—”
I felt my heart moving faster and faster, and tried to force my breathing to slow down, but panic was beginning to overtake me.
“Stop talking, Brasti. You’re making him worse.”
“They’ll come for him, Kest, you know it—they might even be coming now. Are you going to kill every single one of them?”
“If that is what’s required.” You can hear a coldness in Kest’s voice when he talks that way.
“You might be the Saint of Swords now, but you’re still just one man. You can’t fight an army. And what happens if Falcio’s condition gets worse, and he just stops breathing? What happens when we’re not here and—?”
I heard the sound of a scuffle and felt the bed shake a bit as someone was pushed up against the wall.
“Take your Gods-damned hands off me, Kest! Saint or no, I’ll—”
“I’m scared for him too, Brasti,” Kest said. “We’re all scared.”
“He’s . . . By all the hells we’ve been to—he’s supposed to be the smart one. How in the name of Saint Laina’s left tit did he let himself get poisoned again?”
“To save her,” Kest said. “To save Aline.”
There was silence for a few moments and for the first time that morning I couldn’t envision Kest and Brasti’s faces. It was troubling, as if perhaps my hearing had suddenly gone away too. Fortunately, silence is a condition Brasti’s never been able to abide for long.
“And that’s another thing,” he said, “if he’s so damned brilliant then why is it that all anyone has to do to get him to risk his life for a girl he’s never met before is just name her after his dead wife?”
“She’s the King’s heir, Brasti, and if you talk about Falcio’s wife again you’ll discover there are worse things than being paralyzed.”
“I’d take the chance if I thought it would bring him out of this,” Brasti said. “Damn it, Kest! He is the smart one. Trin’s got armies and assassins and damned fucking Dukes on her side and we’ve got nothing. How are we supposed to put a thirteen-year- old girl on the throne with Falcio in this condition?”
I felt my eyes begin to flutter some more, and empty gray started flashing to bright white and back again, over and over. The effect was a little disconcerting.
“I suppose you and I will have to try to be smarter,” Kest said.
“And just how do you propose we go about that?”
“Well, how does Falcio do it?”
There was a long pause, then Brasti started, “He . . . well, he figures things out, doesn’t he? You know, there’ll be six things going on, none of which seem all that important, and then all of a sudden he’ll jump up and declare that assassins are coming or a Lord Caravaner must’ve bribed a City Constable or whatever.”
“Then that’s what you and I need to do,” Kest said. “We need to start figuring those things out before they happen.”
“How?”
“Well, what’s happening right now?”
Brasti snorted. “Well, Trin’s got five thousand soldiers on her side and the backing of at least two powerful duchies. We’ve got about a hundred Greatcoats and the tepid support of the creaky old Duke of Pulnam. Oh, and right about now she’s probably having a nice breakfast and going over her plans for taking the throne while we sit here starving, hiding out in this shitty little village watching Falcio do his best impression of a corpse. And I am starving.”
There was silence again. I tried to move a finger. I don’t think I succeeded, but now I could feel the rough wool of the blanket on my fingertip. That was a good sign.
“At least you aren’t having to listen to screaming children,” Kest said.
“There’s that.”
I heard the sound of Kest’s footsteps as he approached me and felt a hand on my shoulder. “So what do you suppose Falcio would make of all that? What does it all mean?”
“It means . . .” There was a long pause before Brasti finally said, “nothing. It’s all just a bunch of unconnected details, none of which have anything to do with the others. Do you suppose that maybe Falcio just pretends to be clever and no one’s caught on yet?”
I wanted to laugh at Brasti’s frustration, then I felt the small muscles at the edges of my mouth twitch, just a bit. Oh, Gods, I’m coming out of it. Move, I told myself. Get out of bed and go and help the Tailor defeat Trin’s army. Put Aline on the throne, and then get out of this business of politics and war and go back to judging land disputes over whose cow farted on whose field, and chasing down the occasional corrupt Knight.
A tightness in my stomach made me aware of how hungry I was, and I realized Brasti wasn’t the only one ready for a hearty breakfast. Food, I thought, then figure out how to save the world. I was glad I wouldn’t have to do it while the villagers’ screaming brats ran around
wanting to play at being Greatcoats with us, demanding our swords and trying our patience.
Which was odd. Why didn’t the villagers bring their children? There wasn’t much danger to the village—the Tailor had sent out scouts and none had reported sighting anything more than a few handfuls of Trin’s men—not enough to cause us grief. Come to think of it, where were the rest of Trin’s men? They might have been on missions, but surely they’d have been recalled as soon as anyone knew we were here. And the children . . .
“Swords!” I shouted.
Well, “shouted” is a bit optimistic, given my tongue was still thick in my throat, and I could barely move my lips. My eyes opened, though, which was good.
Brasti ran over to me. “Whores? What are you talking about?”
“Do you suppose he means that woman from Rijou? The one who saved his life?”
“You might be right,” Brasti said, awkwardly brushing a hand across my head. “Don’t worry, Falcio. We’ll find you another whore just as soon as—”
“Swords, you damned fools,” I mumbled. “Swords!”
“Help him up,” Brasti said. “I think he said ‘hordes’. Maybe we’re about to be attacked.”
Kest put his arm around my shoulders and helped me off the bed and onto my unsteady feet. Damn it, I was moving like an old man.
Brasti picked up my rapiers from the bench and handed them to me. “Here. You should probably have your swords ready if we’re going to get into a fight, don’t you think?”
I would have killed both of them, were it not for the fact that I was fairly sure someone else was about to do it for me.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. "Tell them the Greatcoats are coming" indeed. By Bob Milne I know it sounds like hyperbole and hype, but Knight's Shadow truly is a must-read book, a title that I quite literally could not put down. I found myself wandering the parking lot at the office all week, reading through lunch and breaks. I kept it on the seat beside me and read pages while waiting in line at the drive through, Last night I even followed my son around the mall, reading as we walked and he played. If you read my review of Traitor's Blade, then you know I had some challenges with the first book, and some reservations going into this, but you can forget everything I said. Not only has Sebastien de Castell completely won me over, but he's managed to top The Grace of Kings as my favorite read of the year.Seriously, it's that good.With the first book, I found that the flashbacks and history served to overwhelm the story. What happened before, especially regarding the fall of the Greatcoats, was simply more fascinating than the developing story. Here, de Castell really pulls away from those flashbacks, having Falcio, Kest, and Brasti talk about the past, but keeping us firmly rooted in the present. It shifts the focus significantly, and allows for a much better flow to the story. History is still important, and there are still mysteries to be revealed, but they accent the story, rather than drive it.As much as the characters were the strongest aspect of Traitor's Blade, I felt the book suffered a little from its focus on Falcio. Alone, isolated from his fellow Greatcoats, and developed as much through his past as his present, he conspired with the flashbacks and pacing to drag the story down. Here, we get much more of an ensemble cast. Yes, the other characters are very much defined by how they interact with Falcio, but they share the scenes. More importantly, they have significant moments of their own, allowing them to grow, to develop, and distinguish themselves. Valiana gets significant character development as well, transitioning from spoiled would-be Queen to one of the bravest and most valiant of the Greatcoats, while Darriana takes a long time to reveal herself, but proves to be most of the most intriguing and pivotal characters in the story. Even the Dukes and Knights get their moments, with several of them becoming legitimate characters, rather than just tropes or plot devices.Once again we have a nice mix of adventure, thrills, dark humor, and even darker cruelty. I laughed aloud at several points, especially the scenes involving the Knights. I'm not sure any class gets skewered quite so effectively throughout the entire series. I also found myself regularly cringing and cursing de Castell for what he put his characters through, especially Falcio. The battle of Carefal is one of the most powerful I've ever encountered in a fantasy novel, especially in how it impacts the Greatcoats and changes their entire perspective. I won't say much more than that, as the worst examples are pivotal spoilers, but I challenge you to read through the entire Greatcoat's Lament without pausing to catch your breath, punch a wall, and rail against the world.Finally, what really elevates Knight's Shadow above its first volume is the advancement of the mythologies and world building. We find out much more about who the Greatcoats are, who they were, and who they're destined to be. Similarly, we come to understand just who and what the Dashini are, and what role they have to play in the broader conflict. With the mystery of the King’s Charoites resolved, the story advances to embrace the wider conflicts and betrayals of a world on the brink of war. Every time you think you have it figured out, de Castell reveals another hidden motive or betrayal, turning the entire tale on its head more than once. It's brilliant, it's effective, and it's entirely satisfying.Thoroughly entertaining and emotionally intense, Knight's Shadow is the kind of historical fantasy that makes everything else pale in comparison. Sebastien de Castell gets inside our heads, inside our hearts, and under our skin. This is a powerful read, one that's full of surprises, and satisfying in absolutely every respect. If there's a problem, it's that it raises the bar so high, leaving Tyrant's Throne with some big expectations to fulfill . . . but that's a good problem to have.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Swashbuckling Good Time By Veronica 87 This is the swashbuckling follow-up to Traitor's Blade and it picks up the action just a few weeks after the rousing conclusion to that book. Once again the brothers-in-arms trio of Falcio, Kest, and Brasti are desperately trying to keep the country from totally falling apart while simultaneously trying to avoid death at nearly every turn. The book is full of surprising betrayals, redemptions, and enough plot twists to make your head spin. I love the bonds of loyalty and friendship that bind the three men together but there are also some pretty kick ass, competent women characters in this too. It's a roller coaster adventure ride with politics, torture, betrayal...but also heroism, idealism, valor...and a healthy dose of humor. I can't wait to see what dire straits Falcio, Kest, and Brasti get into next. The only thing that I can't get behind is the "romance" between Falcio and Ethalia. I mean, c'mon, it was ONE night. Don't expect me to buy that as love. But, whatever, at least it doesn't eat up much page time.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. BEST FANTASY BOOK OF 2015 By Wendell Traitor’s Blade was a novel that took me by surprise. Yes, it sounded interesting, but I never expected to love Sebastien de Castell’s mixture of Three Musketeers-esque swashbuckling fun and Game of Throne-like gritty realism as much as I did. It really was one of the best books of 2014.Flash forward to 2015. Knight’s Shadow is being released. Yes, I’m overwhelming anxious to get my hands on it, but I’m apprehensive as well. I mean, can the author catch lightning in a bottle twice? Can he find a way to include all those great elements from book one, yet minimizing the less stellar ones – like the constant Falcio flashbacks?Well, after finishing the novel, I can honestly declare that my doubts were unfounded. Not only did Sebastien de Castell meet my wildest expectations, but exceeded them by far, and by doing so set a ridiculously high standard for all books that follow. Knight’s Shadow is truly a masterpiece of storytelling; one that I hereby declare “THE BEST FANTASY NOVEL OF 2015!”The tale itself picks up shortly after book one’s ending, but does so in a most fascinating way; our hero Falcio val Mond, swordsman extraordinaire and First Cantor of the Greatcoats, finding himself paralyzed. A state he endures every morning. Poison administered by his vilest enemy the cause. But Falcio must overcome, because time is running out to place Aline securely on the throne, and to accomplish this, he has to find a way to persuade the hated Dukes of the land to support her cause.At this point, Knight’s Shadow seems content to be a straight forward political story. One that included enough hilarious scenes with Falcio, Kest, and Brasti in full swashbuckling mode to be entertaining, but did not reach for anything other than a credible retelling of book one. But then something happened: Sebastien de Castell pulled the proverbial rug out from under me, revealing a devious plot that might involve the most heinous participation by the Greatcoats themselves, leaving the poisoned Falcio, in his loyal naivete, frantically trying to discover the truth before he dies!Wow! I hadn’t experienced such a twisted plot line since I first read Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire many years ago. And this was merely the beginning of the surprises, as Knight’s Shadow jetted into the stratosphere, keeping me turning the pages, as I desperately tried to discover the fate of Falcio and all the other spectacular characters.That brings up one of the stellar improvements in this book from Traitor’s Blade: the characters development. While Kest, Brasti, Aline, Valiana, and all the rest had their moments in book one, here they come into their own. The joker Brasti, who never seemed serious, displaying an unexpected depth of character, as he deals with the utmost despair and devastation. Kest, the Saint of Swords, struggling to balance his devotion to Falcio and his fellow Greatcoats with his desire to seek out opponents worthy of his time. Aline desiring a normal life away from the Dukes and the deadly machinations of the land, but choosing to forego her own personal happiness to try to help others. Valiana, the spoiled noble turned peasant, who slowly evolves from a hopeless wretch into a woman who is willing to change herself and lay down her own life for a cause she deems right. And Darriana, who is revealed late in the story but plays such a pivotal role in its resolution.Another area where this installment of Greatcoats excels is in the world building. We find out more about the history of the Greatcoats, the true story of their beloved king, and who the legendary Dashini are. Conflicts that were mentioned in broad terms before, filtered through Falcio’s naive eyes, are now show in all their tangled complexity. Hidden motives, vile betrayals, and devious machinations layered one upon the other until every absolute truth of this world is turned upside down, contorted into amazing new directions that never fail to surprise.Mixing swashbuckling fun with twisted Martin-esque grimness and set in an amazing world, Knight’s Shadow is an absolute triumph. Creative, brilliant, twisted, emotional, and unforgettable, every one of those labels can be fairly assigned to this novel. “THE BEST BOOK OF 2015!” I declared earlier, and I stand by that pronouncement. Now, all I have to do is patiently wait for book three to be published.
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