What happens when everything you want is taken away? And what do you do when it happens again? Falcio and his two companions were once the revered magisters who upheld the king’s justice. Now they search the land on the king’s dying order.Hated by the people they are sworn to protect, carrying the pain of betrayal, guilt and grief, the greatcoats persevere.I recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and adversity. "Traitor's Blade" is a gripping, imaginative debut with an emotional resonance that urges the reader on not only to find out what happens next but also to savor the flashbacks that incrementally provide insight into the characters and the current state of affairs. It is a complex - but not complicated - story, and to give away too much would be to rob the reader of the joy of discovery. As the pieces fall into places, the story becomes increasingly intriguing. Politics is ever a messy - and bloody - business. The land of Tristia has a monarchy but is also ruled by individual Dukes who want to eliminate kings forever - or at the very least turn them into shallow figureheads while the Dukes hold all the real power. Five years ago King Paelis met his death, and on that day his famed Greatcoats were disbanded. The Greatcoats were the King's Magisters, traveling the land to ensure fair treatment of all under the King's Law. They were hailed as both protectors and heroes - until that day. Afterwards they were generally considered to be traitors and outlaws. Before his death, the King charged each of the Greatcoats with a final task. Falcio val Mond, First Cantor of the Greatcoats, was tasked with tracking down the King's Charoites. The King's instructions were rather vague: seek out the lower noble houses still loyal to the monarchy. Aside from that, Falcio had no idea what he was supposed to look for. He knew only that these Charoites would somehow be important in future maneuverings against the Dukes. Five years have passed, and Falcio and his companions - Kest Murrowson and Brasti Goodbow, both fellow Greatcoats - are no closer to locating any of the Charoites. Five years without a king. Five years of roaming the land, being despised and hounded and hunted. The best they can do is hire themselves out for odd jobs as they travel and search for clues. As the story opens they are on just such a job, acting as bodyguards for a traveling merchant lord. The situation falls apart and the Greatcoats are framed for murder. They must flee quickly, so they sign on with a departing caravan willing to hire them as guards. The caravan is carrying a noblewoman to another city to visit her father. Politics and emotions collide when Falcio learns that the noblewoman is Princess Valiana. Her parents, Duke Jillard and Duchess Patriana, are blatantly anti-monarchy and played a large part in the downfall of King Paelis. Honor requires commitment, however, so despite the death of the king, they cannot simply kill the Princess out of a desire for revenge. They stay with the caravan and it finally reaches its destination, the dangerous city of Rijou. Duke Jillard's city. Blood Week is about to start, which is really nothing more than an annual excuse for the Duke to eliminate those he considers enemies. One noble house in particular is targeted, and by the next morning the house is found burned to the ground, and most of the occupants along with it. One young girl, Aline Trianna, managed to find a secure hiding space and survived. Falcio vows to stay in Rijou to protect her until the end of Blood Week - but will either of them last that long? What follows is a cat-and-mouse game full of betrayal, danger, and surprising revelations. People are not always what they appear to be, and even Falcio must face a long dark night of the soul. Sebastien de Castell showcases a master's touch with dialogue, pacing, and story construction that places him firmly in the company of authors such as Joe Abercrombie, David Chandler, and Brent Weeks. "Traitor's Blade" is an auspicious start to what will surely be a celebrated series.
What do You think about Blutrecht (2014)?
Great adventure. The plot moves well and I was invested in the characters.
—Jul
Love this book...Don't mind re-reading it..Reading it was totally fun
—willvic2
Nice pacing, good story, excellent first book.
—ganderbaby
