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Greatcoats #3
Saint's Blood
How do you kill a Saint?
Falcio, Kest, and Brasti are about to find out, because someone has figured out a way to do it and they've started with a friend.
The Dukes were already looking for ways out of their agreement to put Aline on the throne, but with the Saints turning up dead, rumours are spreading that the Gods themselves oppose her ascension. Now churches are looking to protect themselves by bringing back the military orders of religious soldiers, assassins, and (especially) Inquisitors - a move that could turn the country into a theocracy. The only way Falcio can put a stop to it is by finding the murderer. He has only one clue: a terrifying iron mask which makes the Saints vulnerable by driving them mad. But even if he can find the killer, he'll still have to face him in battle.
And that may be a duel that no swordsman, no matter how skilled, can hope to win.
558 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2016
About the author
Sebastien de Castell
46 books4,769 followersHi Folks!
My sixteenth novel, CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS is now available. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!
My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!
My fourteenth novel, THE MALEVOLENT SEVEN is about a band of anti-hero mages who may be humanity's last hope.
You can get a pair of free stories here.
The best way to stay up to date is at www.decastell.com, but I'm also on that Facebook thing. Also that Twitter thing. One day I'll even remember to get on that Instagram thing.
As to who I am? Well . . .
Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in Archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually 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. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way.
Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com
My sixteenth novel, CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS is now available. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!
My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!
My fourteenth novel, THE MALEVOLENT SEVEN is about a band of anti-hero mages who may be humanity's last hope.
You can get a pair of free stories here.
The best way to stay up to date is at www.decastell.com, but I'm also on that Facebook thing. Also that Twitter thing. One day I'll even remember to get on that Instagram thing.
As to who I am? Well . . .
Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in Archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually 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. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way.
Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 880 reviews
May 4, 2023
4.5/5 Stars
BR with the Greatcoats at 'Fantasy Buddy Reads' group
Call me a village idiot if I don’t put this book in my list of favorites, for the Saint’s Blood has seeped into my bloodstream.
Saint’s Blood is by far, imo the best entry in the series so far. It’s a worthy entry for a penultimate book and it exceeded my expectation of the series. It's not without its flaws but there’s no doubt that I enjoyed reading it cover to cover immensely, right down to the last page, literally. If you’re like me who always read every single word in a book, starting from the publication details (it’s normal right?) up to the acknowledgement, do know that there’s a bonus scene that Sebastien prepared for you at the last page after the acknowledgement section, don’t miss it!
The plot started 4 months after the end of Knight’s Shadow and it began quickly with a great duel fight and the dying of a Saint. Each entry in the Greatcoats series have an overarching arc and although the stories always continue with the same characters but the main enemies they faced in each entry are always different and this time, the Greatcoats will have to solve the mystery behind the Saint’s deaths and deal with the worse adversary they ever faced so far. The new enemies, the God’s Needles are disturbing, bloody, and diabolical, although there probably won’t be a scene as powerful as 'The Greatcoats Lament' from book 2, every battle in Saint’s Blood is so much more exhilarating and breathtaking which more than made up for it.
Not only the book contained a plethora of intricate duel scenes, the pacing of this book is also very fast paced. Addictive plot aside, this is probably due to the fact that chapters are shorter this time compared to previous books, where Knight’s Shadow have 48 chapter with more pages, Saint’s Blood has almost 80 chapters with less amount of pages. The pacing is only slow in the first 100 pages but after that, almost every chapter ended with a cliffhanger that pushed me into continuing, the one more chapter syndrome is very evident here. With so much tension, Saint’s Blood showed exactly just how evil Tristia, the country of sorrow is with its injustice, tyranny and self-righteous people, Saint’s Blood dive into the topic of how far people will go for power wonderfully that it made me wonder if the country is even worth saving at all.
During my time of reading this book, I can’t help but feel that the plot is an allusion to our real world situation since this time, the major theme of the book focused a lot on religion, consecration, and desecration, specifically conflict because of religion. I’m not here to do a lecture on religion, I’m not the most well-versed individual on this topic but we all know from the shit we see every day how people used religion as an excuse for war, terrorism or self-gain. Kids who have never experience graduation or adulthood died for no reason because some people claimed that it is “God’s Will” to do so, it’s fucking unfair.
However, as usual, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how far it is. The only way to reach that light is to do something that we always knew but most of the time forgot, stand up against injustice, starting from ourselves, together with your closest ones and this book made a perfect example of these situations and solutions wonderfully.
This book is a fantastic balance between character-driven and plot driven book, despite the book being fast paced and done in 1st person view, Falcio, Brasti (my personal favorite), Kest, Valiana, you know what? I’m just going to say everyone (even the villain), have a stunning development in their character’s growth and relationship. The banter and interactions between our main trios are the best so far, their endless bickering, hilarious dialogues (funniest entry so far) and banter entertained me immensely. I’m delighted to see how much detail Sebastien put into the trios deepening friendship through their endless challenges, especially for Falcio, this guy must have the highest amount of both bad luck and good luck but it’s only because of this that we were able to see how much the trio care so much towards each other. Gimme some more of that bromance!
Lastly, the prose and world-building do receive significant improvement, with the story centered on the Saints, we finally get to know more about them, the Gods, their creation and their power. Unlike the previous two book, a lot of magic are in the book now and with Sebastien’s improved prose in guiding the story, everything worked great for me.
Saint’s Blood is a fantastic sequel and definitely the best entry in the series so far. It was too enjoyable to read and so hard for me to put down, sleeping hours were sacrificed, I can hear the book begged me to read every time I took a break it was crazy. I highly recommend this series for any lover of adult fantasy stories, now let me continue my journey with the Greatcoats one more time in Tyrant's Throne.
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
BR with the Greatcoats at 'Fantasy Buddy Reads' group
Call me a village idiot if I don’t put this book in my list of favorites, for the Saint’s Blood has seeped into my bloodstream.
Saint’s Blood is by far, imo the best entry in the series so far. It’s a worthy entry for a penultimate book and it exceeded my expectation of the series. It's not without its flaws but there’s no doubt that I enjoyed reading it cover to cover immensely, right down to the last page, literally. If you’re like me who always read every single word in a book, starting from the publication details (it’s normal right?) up to the acknowledgement, do know that there’s a bonus scene that Sebastien prepared for you at the last page after the acknowledgement section, don’t miss it!
The plot started 4 months after the end of Knight’s Shadow and it began quickly with a great duel fight and the dying of a Saint. Each entry in the Greatcoats series have an overarching arc and although the stories always continue with the same characters but the main enemies they faced in each entry are always different and this time, the Greatcoats will have to solve the mystery behind the Saint’s deaths and deal with the worse adversary they ever faced so far. The new enemies, the God’s Needles are disturbing, bloody, and diabolical, although there probably won’t be a scene as powerful as 'The Greatcoats Lament' from book 2, every battle in Saint’s Blood is so much more exhilarating and breathtaking which more than made up for it.
Not only the book contained a plethora of intricate duel scenes, the pacing of this book is also very fast paced. Addictive plot aside, this is probably due to the fact that chapters are shorter this time compared to previous books, where Knight’s Shadow have 48 chapter with more pages, Saint’s Blood has almost 80 chapters with less amount of pages. The pacing is only slow in the first 100 pages but after that, almost every chapter ended with a cliffhanger that pushed me into continuing, the one more chapter syndrome is very evident here. With so much tension, Saint’s Blood showed exactly just how evil Tristia, the country of sorrow is with its injustice, tyranny and self-righteous people, Saint’s Blood dive into the topic of how far people will go for power wonderfully that it made me wonder if the country is even worth saving at all.
“How can anything good come from a place where all I can see are cruel, petty men ruling the world?”
During my time of reading this book, I can’t help but feel that the plot is an allusion to our real world situation since this time, the major theme of the book focused a lot on religion, consecration, and desecration, specifically conflict because of religion. I’m not here to do a lecture on religion, I’m not the most well-versed individual on this topic but we all know from the shit we see every day how people used religion as an excuse for war, terrorism or self-gain. Kids who have never experience graduation or adulthood died for no reason because some people claimed that it is “God’s Will” to do so, it’s fucking unfair.
However, as usual, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how far it is. The only way to reach that light is to do something that we always knew but most of the time forgot, stand up against injustice, starting from ourselves, together with your closest ones and this book made a perfect example of these situations and solutions wonderfully.
“If not us, then who? Who’s going to stand when everyone kneels? Who’s going to argue for the law even when there’s no justice to be had? Who’s going to try even when the trying is too damned hard?”
This book is a fantastic balance between character-driven and plot driven book, despite the book being fast paced and done in 1st person view, Falcio, Brasti (my personal favorite), Kest, Valiana, you know what? I’m just going to say everyone (even the villain), have a stunning development in their character’s growth and relationship. The banter and interactions between our main trios are the best so far, their endless bickering, hilarious dialogues (funniest entry so far) and banter entertained me immensely. I’m delighted to see how much detail Sebastien put into the trios deepening friendship through their endless challenges, especially for Falcio, this guy must have the highest amount of both bad luck and good luck but it’s only because of this that we were able to see how much the trio care so much towards each other. Gimme some more of that bromance!
Lastly, the prose and world-building do receive significant improvement, with the story centered on the Saints, we finally get to know more about them, the Gods, their creation and their power. Unlike the previous two book, a lot of magic are in the book now and with Sebastien’s improved prose in guiding the story, everything worked great for me.
Saint’s Blood is a fantastic sequel and definitely the best entry in the series so far. It was too enjoyable to read and so hard for me to put down, sleeping hours were sacrificed, I can hear the book begged me to read every time I took a break it was crazy. I highly recommend this series for any lover of adult fantasy stories, now let me continue my journey with the Greatcoats one more time in Tyrant's Throne.
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
May 23, 2017
1.) Traitor's Blade ★★★★★
2.) Knight's Shadow ★★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm actually at a loss for words, because this book, and series, is so close to perfection in my eyes. But, Lord, help me; I'm going to try to review this book anyways.
So, you guys probably like Hamilton, like me, right? Okay, you know in "Burn" how Eliza sings "You and your words flooded my senses. Your sentences left me defenseless. You built me palaces out of paragraphs..."? Well, that's what Sebastien de Castell does with this book. He literally built his readers a fantasy novel that surpasses any expectations they could have ever had for a fantasy novel. He wrote a series that I will cherish for the rest of my life. He strings together these words that have, somehow, gotten under my skin, and I can't forget them. Sebastien de Castell has built something that I have no words for, and, like, you know I have to be pretty obsessed to be making Hamilton comparisons.
This third installment really solidified that this series will be one of my favorite series of all time. In fact, Greatcoats is my third favorite series of all time. I can also say, with very little doubt, that Saint's Blood will be the best book, that I've read, that was published in 2016.
Like, I never really recommend books to people. I normally just gush about books with others when we've both read the same book, or I will just give them my personal opinion on a book and hope they might pick it up. But, for all that is good in this world, please give this series a shot. This series deserves as much praise as The Kingkiller Chronicle, ASOIAF, Mistborn, and every other popular high fantasy book out there.
Have I gushed enough? Probably not, but let's try to move on anyway.
This particular installment surrounds Falcio, Kest, and Brasti, while they are still trying to save Tristia, a country that doesn't know how to be saved. This time a new threat is poised at the gang and they have no idea where to even begin searching for clues to solve this impending disaster, because even Saint's are dying.
This book heavily touches on the evil that is in this world, and the terrible things that people do when they think no one is watching. Sometimes, it's really hard to think of reasons for the world to be saved when such horrible and cruel things happen. But as much darkness that is in the world, there is always more light and, more importantly, more humans who are willing to do what's right. I feel like there is a 2016 election, for us Americans, parallel in here.
Religion can be such a beautiful thing, and such an ugly thing. So many wars are started because of religion. People can do horrible things in the name of their God(s). But with faith comes hope, and with hope we can always right the wrongs that happen in this world. Hope is more valuable than all the gold in the world.
Falcio and the gang have to see a lot of horrible things in this book, and have to overcome even more horrible things. I love watching the Greatcoats' journey, and seeing them grow and love in the face of many evils. The cast of character in this series is truly a tier above any other characters, and their empathy never stops astonishing me, their banter never stops making me laugh, and their courage never stops rendering me speechless.
This book broke me. This book killed me. This book, then, resurrected me and gave me life. Then, I read the bonus content and this book ripped my fucking heart out, and now is going to make me wait a year to maybe get it back.
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2.) Knight's Shadow ★★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Rage won’t help you understand death, nor sorrow, and if there’s one thing the dead deserve, it is for their true story to be told.”
I'm actually at a loss for words, because this book, and series, is so close to perfection in my eyes. But, Lord, help me; I'm going to try to review this book anyways.
So, you guys probably like Hamilton, like me, right? Okay, you know in "Burn" how Eliza sings "You and your words flooded my senses. Your sentences left me defenseless. You built me palaces out of paragraphs..."? Well, that's what Sebastien de Castell does with this book. He literally built his readers a fantasy novel that surpasses any expectations they could have ever had for a fantasy novel. He wrote a series that I will cherish for the rest of my life. He strings together these words that have, somehow, gotten under my skin, and I can't forget them. Sebastien de Castell has built something that I have no words for, and, like, you know I have to be pretty obsessed to be making Hamilton comparisons.
This third installment really solidified that this series will be one of my favorite series of all time. In fact, Greatcoats is my third favorite series of all time. I can also say, with very little doubt, that Saint's Blood will be the best book, that I've read, that was published in 2016.
Like, I never really recommend books to people. I normally just gush about books with others when we've both read the same book, or I will just give them my personal opinion on a book and hope they might pick it up. But, for all that is good in this world, please give this series a shot. This series deserves as much praise as The Kingkiller Chronicle, ASOIAF, Mistborn, and every other popular high fantasy book out there.
Have I gushed enough? Probably not, but let's try to move on anyway.
“Deato mendea valus febletta. The Gods give every man a weakness.”
This particular installment surrounds Falcio, Kest, and Brasti, while they are still trying to save Tristia, a country that doesn't know how to be saved. This time a new threat is poised at the gang and they have no idea where to even begin searching for clues to solve this impending disaster, because even Saint's are dying.
This book heavily touches on the evil that is in this world, and the terrible things that people do when they think no one is watching. Sometimes, it's really hard to think of reasons for the world to be saved when such horrible and cruel things happen. But as much darkness that is in the world, there is always more light and, more importantly, more humans who are willing to do what's right. I feel like there is a 2016 election, for us Americans, parallel in here.
Religion can be such a beautiful thing, and such an ugly thing. So many wars are started because of religion. People can do horrible things in the name of their God(s). But with faith comes hope, and with hope we can always right the wrongs that happen in this world. Hope is more valuable than all the gold in the world.
“But no man is all one thing; none of us are pure in our beliefs or our devotions. We are all bound by the frailties of our humanity, some of which feed our hatred, some of which, very occasionally, make us want to be something better.”
Falcio and the gang have to see a lot of horrible things in this book, and have to overcome even more horrible things. I love watching the Greatcoats' journey, and seeing them grow and love in the face of many evils. The cast of character in this series is truly a tier above any other characters, and their empathy never stops astonishing me, their banter never stops making me laugh, and their courage never stops rendering me speechless.
“Nothing lasts for ever, Falcio. Not people, not castles, not even Gods.”
This book broke me. This book killed me. This book, then, resurrected me and gave me life. Then, I read the bonus content and this book ripped my fucking heart out, and now is going to make me wait a year to maybe get it back.
“When you read it, you will know that I loved you even before I was a man, and that you were my Queen even before you wore a crown. You will know that I have spent every day since I first met you trying to become a man worthy of your esteem, and if after finishing this letter you look up at me and smile, it will all have been worth it.”
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May 27, 2024
My name is Falcio val Mond, First Cantor of the King's Greatcoats. Not long ago I was one of the finest swordsmen in the world.
These days? Not so much.
I love maps. I'm going to start me a map collection from all the books I love. That will take awhile.
Anyway, I don't think the second and third book was as good as the first one but it was still freaking awesome.
Aline manned up and showed everyone that's she's not just some little girl they are putting on the throne.
Some crackpots are out killing the Saints which sucks of course. But isn't there always some crackpot.
Peeps die and come back to life. It actually makes me scared for the last book with all of this dying and coming back to life but maybe it will sort itself out.
I just love this series so much. I love Kest, Brasti and Falcio. I know I keep saying that in all of my reviews but it's true. I can't say it enough. They are just great characters who love each other and watch out for each other even if they do cuss each other from time to time. ❤
There seemed to be more fighting in this book. More people being stabbed and other sorts of things.
People being taken over and made to wear these evil masks and attack others or just die. You can read all about that.
Either way, it was another great book in the series and I'm off to the last book. And I'm scared =(
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
August 4, 2018
"I am First Cantor of the Greatcoats. When you go to hell, tell your God who sent you."
Rest assured Falcio, I will. And half of Goodreads will hear it too. The first part irked me with problematic world building, the second with the leading protagonist, in this volume all the previous shortcomings were additionally supplemented with plot-related problems. And yet, the ratings of this book are ridiculously high. It seems that is is yet another book in need of an urgent dispatch from the May-nority corner.
Here it comes.
Protagonist Issues
Let us start with Falcio. In the previous instalment he has become the ultimate paragon, the epitome of a hero shining valour so strongly that I was positive he needed no light when going to the loo. Not only was his character development unidimensional in the second book, but also he overshadowed the other two Greatcoats to the detriment of the whole story which became Falcio driven and dominated. Now, if you are in the middle of the series, a situation like this begs for a character breakthrough. Consequently, in Saint’s Blood we are faced with Falcio the First Antithesis of What He Was Before.
He used to be a great fencer? Well, he isn’t anymore. He had his priorities and strategies sorted? This is not the case. He teamworked when needed and led when necessary, now he goes primadonna when collaboration is called for and enters the traumatised wreck mode when strong personality would be the key to success. He really did drive me crazy and made my non-existent ulcer bleed. Every time he made some kind of idiotic pronouncement or had a serious fit of heroics, did things other people could do, pouted like a petulant teenager only to save the day in the last possible moment and the least credible way I had a feeling that even the Author does not like him too much and that the supposedly snide remarks (“I sound like an idiot” or “why did I do this and that and that way”) should not be read in diverted commas but taken on face value.
Essentially, in Saint’s Blood Falcio is socialism impersonated in the sense that he valiantly resolves the problems he himself had created. And he creates them all the time because he is unstable and silly most of the time. Bill, very sensibly, noticed that he has a hard time seeing Falcio as a leader of men. That his pals follow him, yes this I can accept. But the others? I expect this is precisely the reason why he goes around repeating every second sentence the very long title of his office. I have had a head of department like that once. He was a nightmare of a boss to work with. Every conversation with him evolved around ‘respect me I am the boss here and you shall do as you are told’. A trademark of bad leaders: the power of the office is necessary. Otherwise, not much is there. Just think about how all Falcio's victories are narrowest possible and achieved through tricks and small miracles owned to strokes of luck or plot conveniences.
And because this book is narrated by Falcio, I really need to take a break every couple of chapters or so lest I suffered a Falcio-overdose.
Worldbuilding problems
I am not sure I like the way the world building is developed either. In the first book, we get acquainted with the bizarre mixture of bards, fencers and lawyers, that is Greatcoats also known as Trattati. In the second book, we were introduced to actual bards and singers (but also spies and messengers) called Bradatti. This time, another group makes an appearance: the Cogneri, i.e., Inquisitors, responsible for all things religious. Suddenly we learn that the clergy has their own laws called Canon Dei that are basically outside the Greatcoat remit. And additionally, they have their own law-enforcement. Imagine an urban fantasy series that in its third book introduces firemen even though in the previous volume one of the main characters gains a natural pyrokinetic ability.
Then there is the supernatural. I don’t even want to go into the theological detail but it really is unavoidable. There are two main problems: the primacy of divine over the human law (or vice versa) and the very nature of the divine. The first debate is as old as the Enlightenment itself (that is to say, not really old at all), and Mr de Castell entirely ignores the natural laws and everything that comes with it. Additionally, the insularity of King’s Law that is not anchored in anything except for utopian ideals or the unquestioned legitimacy of the very monarchy is entirely omitted. The second renders gods essentially human creations who appear because people will them into being, can be forgotten or even killed, whereas the Law has always been there, is and will be regardless whether one likes it or no thus has superior everlasting power that should beworshipped venerated respected.
What is more, a preposterous premise is written into this situation that gods hate the Law, which really is merely a part of a wider anti-religious prejudice in this book that does not even pretend to offer a balanced approach. Phrases like “spewing religious madness,”crazed religious zealots” and the like appear every other page. So while Falcio will be very quick to point out somebody’s “self-satisfaction of a zealot who believed he had the right to kill” he never bothers to examine his own self-satisfaction based on the same premise just because he happens to kill different people and in the name of different ideals.
If you feel this is not paradoxical enough, there is more:
⁉️ there is a drug that gives you strictly religious hallucinations;
⁉️ clergy is corrupt and in general do not believe by default also they tend to abuse their office whereas Greatcoats are devoted and faithful and would never ever misinterpret the Law;
⁉️ people believe because they are gullible and desperate (and most often both);
⁉️ you create a new religion like you would create a new and improved crop (GMO corn anyone?);
⁉️ monarchy is better than theocracy because. Yes, because (I expect the full answer is: Because Greatcoats);
⁉️ there is no eternal divine power but somehow you can ‘desecrate’ a saint or a place (although the details are murky);
⁉️ gods can be killed;
⁉️ and manufactured or spawned (they are spawned from faith, however if you believe strongly in other things, strangely they do not come about so forget about bringing unicorns to this world);
⁉️ gods have some powers of unknown origin and these powers are transferable to non-divine beings so can be stolen and used for malicious purposes;
⁉️ the Saints exist to stand against the tyranny of gods (Wait, weren’t the gods created by man? Yes, they were. It leaves you wondering how can there be a tyranny of the created over the creator. Yeah, I wonder too.) and their power comes… why surely it comes from the deities but funny enough the question why would a god extend their power to somebody who ‘stands against theocratic tyranny’ is not tackled;
⁉️ when people created laws the gods became enraged because it is obvious that every divine being prefers total anarchy (it is implied that Canon Dei regulates the faith-related issues, not taxes and the like);
⁉️ gods are weakened by the capital letter law and every act of valour is a prayer; also, singing the Laws is better than a weapon of mass destruction. I promise!
The whole theological conundrum is pursued by people who without the smallest embarrassment admit to being religiously ignorant and are as versed in theology as I am in biochemical engineering (the difference with me is that a) I am aware of my ignorance and everything that comes with it b) I don’t mess with things outside my expertise. I’d like to say that mayhem follows, but mayhem at least would be exciting, and what follows is just irritating.
Plot Conveniences
Where we are is this: The fourteen-year-old heir to the throne of Tristia owes her position and relative safety from the dukes to the Realm Protector, a twenty-year-old female prodigy combining fighting skills and intelligence with personal integrity that puts Chuck Norris to shame. In the meantime, the few remaining Greatcoats are trying to restore the rule of law to the country torn by strife, poverty, corruption, and other ailments. None of the previously introduced difficulties are really resolved but why bother with dealing with what is already on the plate, when you can simply add new things.
Falcio’s main objectives are very simple: 1) see the King’s daughter on the throne (let us forget for a moment that there are possibly other “charoites” aka royal bastards that might have precedence here), 2) find the reminder of Greatcoats and 3) reenact the rule of law in the country in the hope that as soon as this is done, all other problems disappear.
But of course there is the saintly whore number and so the first thing Falcio does is to forget the first, ignore the second and jeopardize the third objective by going outside his mandate. Let us remember that Falcio’s mandate is strictly secular which means that faith-related issues shouldn’t interest his Greatcoats even remotely, especially that it is mentioned how the Trattari and Cogneri dislike each other and rarely interact or interfere. It doesn’t mean that suddenly he feels the urge to protect all the Saints and churches, just has this one particular interest strangely being the woman he is personally involved with. This weird priority of personal preferences over legal framework does not seem to bother anyone, Falcio least of all.
And why would the Inquisitors not deal with things like religious cults, desecrations, and the like? Why because in a land where the only deity is the law this would be inconceivable. I kind of stop wondering why people hate Greatcoats so much even though Trattari are supposedly working for their benefit. Supposedly is the key word here.
The old enemy is supplanted with a new one, even more sinister with even more terrific powers.
“A great and terrible intellect. A mind that would see this world shaped to his liking.”
Oh, wait. Actually, if you were not convinced that Tailor is enough an excuse to do everything the plot requires w whole category of plot conveniences is introduced: the Inlaudati, Unrecognised, people with superpowers that come from an unknown source (not divine, though) and apparently on a whim. Of course, Falcio and the Antagonist have a nice reckoning about two thirds into the book so that the evil one can explain everything to Falcio, sketch his strategy and provide him with overall intelligence.
This wouldn’t be perhaps as jarring if not for the fact that the previous problems and antagonists have not been dealt with. No, we were led to believe that they just lie hidden and wait biding their time. But really I find it rather difficult to believe that as everything unravels and collapses the already known evildoers behave as if they were hibernated, instead of seizing their chance to act. Luckily, as they are dormant, Falcio has the chance to persevere, especially that his extraordinary luck is accompanied by supernatural dreams/visions that provide him with just enough snippets of information (otherwise unattainable) that he pulls through.
There are three additional things I wanted to mention. The first one continues from the previous book. The whole bromance acquires decisively weird flavour (putting your beaten nearly to death friend into a coffin for the sheer fun of his reaction when he wakes up?) and the dynamics between the trio still lacks balance.
Secondly, while I admire Mr de Castell’s fencing knowledge (as oppose to his theological one), there are numerous lengthy conversations during duels and battles scenes with Falcio chatting with his friends and enemies alike, exchanging scathing remarks and know-how or explaining various mysterious events or phenomena. Honestly, any hostile clash changes into a parlour tea party with pleasantries exchanges and gossip swap and perforce loses the flavour of authenticity, instead seems choreographed.
Finally, there is a romantic subplot in the book. Even two, if you’d like to be pedantic. But because one cannot have a happy ending in book two of four, a crisis was concocted to add drama and tension. Needless to say, the whole drama feels strained and prolonged by an inexplicable persistence of Falcio's weird connection with his dead wife that should have been exorcised in the previous book but still lingers. So there is the fake tension between the dead saint and a livingwhore saint and a man in between. It is a very tiring threesome I must say. A poor execution of the star-crossed lovers trope when there is really really nothing keeping them apart except for the editorial need to have some drama.
I feel like I deserve a reward for pushing through this one. And if it wasn’t the penultimate instalment, I’d definitely drop the series altogether.
Other Greatcoats books:
1. Traitor's Blade ★★★☆☆
2. Knight's Shadow ★★★☆☆
4. Tyrant's Throne ★☆☆☆☆
Rest assured Falcio, I will. And half of Goodreads will hear it too. The first part irked me with problematic world building, the second with the leading protagonist, in this volume all the previous shortcomings were additionally supplemented with plot-related problems. And yet, the ratings of this book are ridiculously high. It seems that is is yet another book in need of an urgent dispatch from the May-nority corner.
Here it comes.
Protagonist Issues
Let us start with Falcio. In the previous instalment he has become the ultimate paragon, the epitome of a hero shining valour so strongly that I was positive he needed no light when going to the loo. Not only was his character development unidimensional in the second book, but also he overshadowed the other two Greatcoats to the detriment of the whole story which became Falcio driven and dominated. Now, if you are in the middle of the series, a situation like this begs for a character breakthrough. Consequently, in Saint’s Blood we are faced with Falcio the First Antithesis of What He Was Before.
He used to be a great fencer? Well, he isn’t anymore. He had his priorities and strategies sorted? This is not the case. He teamworked when needed and led when necessary, now he goes primadonna when collaboration is called for and enters the traumatised wreck mode when strong personality would be the key to success. He really did drive me crazy and made my non-existent ulcer bleed. Every time he made some kind of idiotic pronouncement or had a serious fit of heroics, did things other people could do, pouted like a petulant teenager only to save the day in the last possible moment and the least credible way I had a feeling that even the Author does not like him too much and that the supposedly snide remarks (“I sound like an idiot” or “why did I do this and that and that way”) should not be read in diverted commas but taken on face value.
Essentially, in Saint’s Blood Falcio is socialism impersonated in the sense that he valiantly resolves the problems he himself had created. And he creates them all the time because he is unstable and silly most of the time. Bill, very sensibly, noticed that he has a hard time seeing Falcio as a leader of men. That his pals follow him, yes this I can accept. But the others? I expect this is precisely the reason why he goes around repeating every second sentence the very long title of his office. I have had a head of department like that once. He was a nightmare of a boss to work with. Every conversation with him evolved around ‘respect me I am the boss here and you shall do as you are told’. A trademark of bad leaders: the power of the office is necessary. Otherwise, not much is there. Just think about how all Falcio's victories are narrowest possible and achieved through tricks and small miracles owned to strokes of luck or plot conveniences.
And because this book is narrated by Falcio, I really need to take a break every couple of chapters or so lest I suffered a Falcio-overdose.
Worldbuilding problems
I am not sure I like the way the world building is developed either. In the first book, we get acquainted with the bizarre mixture of bards, fencers and lawyers, that is Greatcoats also known as Trattati. In the second book, we were introduced to actual bards and singers (but also spies and messengers) called Bradatti. This time, another group makes an appearance: the Cogneri, i.e., Inquisitors, responsible for all things religious. Suddenly we learn that the clergy has their own laws called Canon Dei that are basically outside the Greatcoat remit. And additionally, they have their own law-enforcement. Imagine an urban fantasy series that in its third book introduces firemen even though in the previous volume one of the main characters gains a natural pyrokinetic ability.
Then there is the supernatural. I don’t even want to go into the theological detail but it really is unavoidable. There are two main problems: the primacy of divine over the human law (or vice versa) and the very nature of the divine. The first debate is as old as the Enlightenment itself (that is to say, not really old at all), and Mr de Castell entirely ignores the natural laws and everything that comes with it. Additionally, the insularity of King’s Law that is not anchored in anything except for utopian ideals or the unquestioned legitimacy of the very monarchy is entirely omitted. The second renders gods essentially human creations who appear because people will them into being, can be forgotten or even killed, whereas the Law has always been there, is and will be regardless whether one likes it or no thus has superior everlasting power that should be
What is more, a preposterous premise is written into this situation that gods hate the Law, which really is merely a part of a wider anti-religious prejudice in this book that does not even pretend to offer a balanced approach. Phrases like “spewing religious madness,”crazed religious zealots” and the like appear every other page. So while Falcio will be very quick to point out somebody’s “self-satisfaction of a zealot who believed he had the right to kill” he never bothers to examine his own self-satisfaction based on the same premise just because he happens to kill different people and in the name of different ideals.
If you feel this is not paradoxical enough, there is more:
⁉️ there is a drug that gives you strictly religious hallucinations;
⁉️ clergy is corrupt and in general do not believe by default also they tend to abuse their office whereas Greatcoats are devoted and faithful and would never ever misinterpret the Law;
⁉️ people believe because they are gullible and desperate (and most often both);
⁉️ you create a new religion like you would create a new and improved crop (GMO corn anyone?);
⁉️ monarchy is better than theocracy because. Yes, because (I expect the full answer is: Because Greatcoats);
⁉️ there is no eternal divine power but somehow you can ‘desecrate’ a saint or a place (although the details are murky);
⁉️ gods can be killed;
⁉️ and manufactured or spawned (they are spawned from faith, however if you believe strongly in other things, strangely they do not come about so forget about bringing unicorns to this world);
⁉️ gods have some powers of unknown origin and these powers are transferable to non-divine beings so can be stolen and used for malicious purposes;
⁉️ the Saints exist to stand against the tyranny of gods (Wait, weren’t the gods created by man? Yes, they were. It leaves you wondering how can there be a tyranny of the created over the creator. Yeah, I wonder too.) and their power comes… why surely it comes from the deities but funny enough the question why would a god extend their power to somebody who ‘stands against theocratic tyranny’ is not tackled;
⁉️ when people created laws the gods became enraged because it is obvious that every divine being prefers total anarchy (it is implied that Canon Dei regulates the faith-related issues, not taxes and the like);
⁉️ gods are weakened by the capital letter law and every act of valour is a prayer; also, singing the Laws is better than a weapon of mass destruction. I promise!
The whole theological conundrum is pursued by people who without the smallest embarrassment admit to being religiously ignorant and are as versed in theology as I am in biochemical engineering (the difference with me is that a) I am aware of my ignorance and everything that comes with it b) I don’t mess with things outside my expertise. I’d like to say that mayhem follows, but mayhem at least would be exciting, and what follows is just irritating.
Plot Conveniences
Where we are is this: The fourteen-year-old heir to the throne of Tristia owes her position and relative safety from the dukes to the Realm Protector, a twenty-year-old female prodigy combining fighting skills and intelligence with personal integrity that puts Chuck Norris to shame. In the meantime, the few remaining Greatcoats are trying to restore the rule of law to the country torn by strife, poverty, corruption, and other ailments. None of the previously introduced difficulties are really resolved but why bother with dealing with what is already on the plate, when you can simply add new things.
Falcio’s main objectives are very simple: 1) see the King’s daughter on the throne (let us forget for a moment that there are possibly other “charoites” aka royal bastards that might have precedence here), 2) find the reminder of Greatcoats and 3) reenact the rule of law in the country in the hope that as soon as this is done, all other problems disappear.
But of course there is the saintly whore number and so the first thing Falcio does is to forget the first, ignore the second and jeopardize the third objective by going outside his mandate. Let us remember that Falcio’s mandate is strictly secular which means that faith-related issues shouldn’t interest his Greatcoats even remotely, especially that it is mentioned how the Trattari and Cogneri dislike each other and rarely interact or interfere. It doesn’t mean that suddenly he feels the urge to protect all the Saints and churches, just has this one particular interest strangely being the woman he is personally involved with. This weird priority of personal preferences over legal framework does not seem to bother anyone, Falcio least of all.
And why would the Inquisitors not deal with things like religious cults, desecrations, and the like? Why because in a land where the only deity is the law this would be inconceivable. I kind of stop wondering why people hate Greatcoats so much even though Trattari are supposedly working for their benefit. Supposedly is the key word here.
The old enemy is supplanted with a new one, even more sinister with even more terrific powers.
“A great and terrible intellect. A mind that would see this world shaped to his liking.”
Oh, wait. Actually, if you were not convinced that Tailor is enough an excuse to do everything the plot requires w whole category of plot conveniences is introduced: the Inlaudati, Unrecognised, people with superpowers that come from an unknown source (not divine, though) and apparently on a whim. Of course, Falcio and the Antagonist have a nice reckoning about two thirds into the book so that the evil one can explain everything to Falcio, sketch his strategy and provide him with overall intelligence.
This wouldn’t be perhaps as jarring if not for the fact that the previous problems and antagonists have not been dealt with. No, we were led to believe that they just lie hidden and wait biding their time. But really I find it rather difficult to believe that as everything unravels and collapses the already known evildoers behave as if they were hibernated, instead of seizing their chance to act. Luckily, as they are dormant, Falcio has the chance to persevere, especially that his extraordinary luck is accompanied by supernatural dreams/visions that provide him with just enough snippets of information (otherwise unattainable) that he pulls through.
There are three additional things I wanted to mention. The first one continues from the previous book. The whole bromance acquires decisively weird flavour (putting your beaten nearly to death friend into a coffin for the sheer fun of his reaction when he wakes up?) and the dynamics between the trio still lacks balance.
Secondly, while I admire Mr de Castell’s fencing knowledge (as oppose to his theological one), there are numerous lengthy conversations during duels and battles scenes with Falcio chatting with his friends and enemies alike, exchanging scathing remarks and know-how or explaining various mysterious events or phenomena. Honestly, any hostile clash changes into a parlour tea party with pleasantries exchanges and gossip swap and perforce loses the flavour of authenticity, instead seems choreographed.
Finally, there is a romantic subplot in the book. Even two, if you’d like to be pedantic. But because one cannot have a happy ending in book two of four, a crisis was concocted to add drama and tension. Needless to say, the whole drama feels strained and prolonged by an inexplicable persistence of Falcio's weird connection with his dead wife that should have been exorcised in the previous book but still lingers. So there is the fake tension between the dead saint and a living
I feel like I deserve a reward for pushing through this one. And if it wasn’t the penultimate instalment, I’d definitely drop the series altogether.
Other Greatcoats books:
1. Traitor's Blade ★★★☆☆
2. Knight's Shadow ★★★☆☆
4. Tyrant's Throne ★☆☆☆☆
May 26, 2017
4/5
Another amazing novel in a fantastic series. I seriously can't recommend these books enough to fantasy fans. This is definitely my favourite novel in the series so far, however for me it still had some pretty minor flaws. The book is set four months after its predecessor. It follows Falcio, Kest & Brasti as they go on another adventure full of good shit.
After reading two books in the series and feeling kinda meh about them, I was relieved that I enjoyed this one from start to finish. The writing continues to be flawless, the action scenes are amazing and so well written. This time around I found the fights & action scenes less 'random'. Like I was only here for the badassery and fist fights, luckily I got both. One of my favourite things about this novel is that it's extremely fast paced, so I didn't have time to get bored while reading it, like shit went down on every page. So it's easily devoured, I'm a snail and read it in two days. One of the minor cons for me is the book is written in first person POV, this is definitely a matter of personal taste and it shouldn't effect anyone else's reading experience. But it ruined mine. I just wanted to be in Brasti and Kest's brains aswell, honestly I'm goddamn sick of Falcio & his bitching, That brings me to another minor issue I had with the novel, I can't stand the way Falcio is. his such a dick, the way he talks to his friend is depressing & tbh he is just a depressing sap and I feel because we read from only his perspective that the book takes on a depressing feel and kinda saps the fun out the book at times. But I still love the idiot, ALSO I hate the romance in this novel it feels so forced, so whenever the 'insta-love pair' were together I felt like headbutting a wall. Now all that shitty stuff is out of the way, I can outrageously gush over the things I loved about this book. I'm a sucker for a bromance and totally LOVE the bromance contained in this novel. It gave me all the feels. Instead of the Three Musketeers for me it's like the Three Stooges only with a swords & sorcery, they are all endearing idiots. The banter is amazing. Like I just want to embrace all three characters.. even Falcio who I think could out talk me in a talking competition. Like damn that guy never shuts up. But seriously they all need to become my friends in real life. I felt more emotionally attached to the characters in this book, so at some parts while reading dust flew into my eyes and made them water. The character development is amazing for all characters, especially one of the side character Valiana, imo she is one of the best developed fantasy characters ever and definitely one of my favourites. I also adore two new characters Aline because she has more balls then the men and she's a 14 year old girl & Tommer because his the bravest snowflake ever created. I totally missed Darriana in this book, I need more of her.
A fantastic character driven novel with a fun and well thought-out plot. This book borderlines on grimdark and I love how savage it is. I definitely approve.
P.s. Saint mercy would hate me because I'm as bloodthirsty as they come, plus I hate the bitch and want to stab her with a blunt rusted fork.
You can find this review and my other reviews at Booksprens.
“Deato mendea valus febletta. The Gods give every man a weakness.”
Another amazing novel in a fantastic series. I seriously can't recommend these books enough to fantasy fans. This is definitely my favourite novel in the series so far, however for me it still had some pretty minor flaws. The book is set four months after its predecessor. It follows Falcio, Kest & Brasti as they go on another adventure full of good shit.
"Every village needs an idiot,"
After reading two books in the series and feeling kinda meh about them, I was relieved that I enjoyed this one from start to finish. The writing continues to be flawless, the action scenes are amazing and so well written. This time around I found the fights & action scenes less 'random'. Like I was only here for the badassery and fist fights, luckily I got both. One of my favourite things about this novel is that it's extremely fast paced, so I didn't have time to get bored while reading it, like shit went down on every page. So it's easily devoured, I'm a snail and read it in two days. One of the minor cons for me is the book is written in first person POV, this is definitely a matter of personal taste and it shouldn't effect anyone else's reading experience. But it ruined mine. I just wanted to be in Brasti and Kest's brains aswell, honestly I'm goddamn sick of Falcio & his bitching, That brings me to another minor issue I had with the novel, I can't stand the way Falcio is. his such a dick, the way he talks to his friend is depressing & tbh he is just a depressing sap and I feel because we read from only his perspective that the book takes on a depressing feel and kinda saps the fun out the book at times. But I still love the idiot, ALSO I hate the romance in this novel it feels so forced, so whenever the 'insta-love pair' were together I felt like headbutting a wall. Now all that shitty stuff is out of the way, I can outrageously gush over the things I loved about this book. I'm a sucker for a bromance and totally LOVE the bromance contained in this novel. It gave me all the feels. Instead of the Three Musketeers for me it's like the Three Stooges only with a swords & sorcery, they are all endearing idiots. The banter is amazing. Like I just want to embrace all three characters.. even Falcio who I think could out talk me in a talking competition. Like damn that guy never shuts up. But seriously they all need to become my friends in real life. I felt more emotionally attached to the characters in this book, so at some parts while reading dust flew into my eyes and made them water. The character development is amazing for all characters, especially one of the side character Valiana, imo she is one of the best developed fantasy characters ever and definitely one of my favourites. I also adore two new characters Aline because she has more balls then the men and she's a 14 year old girl & Tommer because his the bravest snowflake ever created. I totally missed Darriana in this book, I need more of her.
A fantastic character driven novel with a fun and well thought-out plot. This book borderlines on grimdark and I love how savage it is. I definitely approve.
P.s. Saint mercy would hate me because I'm as bloodthirsty as they come, plus I hate the bitch and want to stab her with a blunt rusted fork.
You can find this review and my other reviews at Booksprens.
May 30, 2017
A BR with awesome greatcoats from Fantasy group 😊 Guys, you’re the best!!! 😊
I can’t remember reading any book which was so difficult to digest. I read a couple of bad books which I was so glad to DNF also I read a couple worth of DNF, but finished them just to be sure/torture myself. “Saint’s Blood” isn’t one of these books, but the struggle is real, there were a dozen of times when I put the book and went to do smth else. Maybe it was because of struggle I felt starting the book (RL s*cks, but it’s nothing new, you know that already :D) and instead of helping me, “Saint’s Blood” just prolonged the struggle. But lets start from the beginning.
"Saint’s Blood” is the third book in the series. It’s a nice blend of adventure, suspense with dark spices and heartbreakingly tender ties among the characters. Looking at the first two books and how I liked them, there is a pattern. The first book disappointed me a bit, I found it weaker in plot and a bit predictable. I loved book 2 a lot, it had a bit of predictability, too, but the whole mystery fascinated me. What I felt after finishing book 3, well, I was disappointed, sad, unquiet, but still hooked on the series. According to that, I know that I’ll love the fourth book 😊
Characters. What I liked the most in this book, are dialogues, the interaction among the trio is amazing and so funny. At the same time I was charmed how sensitive and caring these guys are regarding each other and their beloved ones or just people who need help.
As in previous books, the story is presented from Falcio’s POV, it was good and bad as I liked following him, exploring and finding the new possibilities and qualities in him and others, but at the same time I got tired of him in the third book in some scenes. Especially when he whimpered and lived in the past. Oh, I know that Falcio is not the same man anymore, whom I met in the first book. The events affected him a lot, physically and emotionally, also sending a huge impacts on his fighting, communication with friends and love.
To make everything more complex, other characters have their own issues. Set off on their individual and united goals, their changing relationships with each other were the core of the story. But as I mentioned before, this book is not all depressing and sorting out the relationships. The guys are unbeatable in jokes and there were a bunch of scenes when I laughed with delight. The scenes what made me teary….
The villain in the story is quite impressive, I liked this
One of the flaws I found in this book is that I expected some nastiness to come from the goodies, too, as some of their stories were too smooth ().
The women in this book need a special praise. Ethalia, Valiana and Queen Aline, so smart, strong, fierce, courageous and loyal. Also I want to join the massive movement “We need more Darri”! I love that girly <3
Oh and I have a really important question, why the hell do we need the ? What’s her purpose in this book? To hells with this old hag!!!!!! :O
Narrative. The series isn’t perfect, but it’s quite enjoyable and engaging. Together with twists and turns it leads to some kind of HEA, which sadly is short-lived. As it was in the previous books, the quick pace, the dark violent style mixed with love, faith, compassion, friendship and goodness. Still not much of magic. Oh and I was a bit annoyed by the pattern. The guys rush somewhere to reach smth/save smth/sb, then it turns out that the real threat is somewhere else and they need to hurry there, it played well in the first two books, but in the third one it’s just too repetitive.
To sum up, it’s quite an entertaining and emotionally draining story with dark and brutal moments which grips and puts away at the same time, but I know that I’ll be joining Greatcoats for their final adventure for sure! 😊
I can’t remember reading any book which was so difficult to digest. I read a couple of bad books which I was so glad to DNF also I read a couple worth of DNF, but finished them just to be sure/torture myself. “Saint’s Blood” isn’t one of these books, but the struggle is real, there were a dozen of times when I put the book and went to do smth else. Maybe it was because of struggle I felt starting the book (RL s*cks, but it’s nothing new, you know that already :D) and instead of helping me, “Saint’s Blood” just prolonged the struggle. But lets start from the beginning.
"Saint’s Blood” is the third book in the series. It’s a nice blend of adventure, suspense with dark spices and heartbreakingly tender ties among the characters. Looking at the first two books and how I liked them, there is a pattern. The first book disappointed me a bit, I found it weaker in plot and a bit predictable. I loved book 2 a lot, it had a bit of predictability, too, but the whole mystery fascinated me. What I felt after finishing book 3, well, I was disappointed, sad, unquiet, but still hooked on the series. According to that, I know that I’ll love the fourth book 😊
Characters. What I liked the most in this book, are dialogues, the interaction among the trio is amazing and so funny. At the same time I was charmed how sensitive and caring these guys are regarding each other and their beloved ones or just people who need help.
As in previous books, the story is presented from Falcio’s POV, it was good and bad as I liked following him, exploring and finding the new possibilities and qualities in him and others, but at the same time I got tired of him in the third book in some scenes. Especially when he whimpered and lived in the past. Oh, I know that Falcio is not the same man anymore, whom I met in the first book. The events affected him a lot, physically and emotionally, also sending a huge impacts on his fighting, communication with friends and love.
To make everything more complex, other characters have their own issues. Set off on their individual and united goals, their changing relationships with each other were the core of the story. But as I mentioned before, this book is not all depressing and sorting out the relationships. The guys are unbeatable in jokes and there were a bunch of scenes when I laughed with delight. The scenes what made me teary….
The villain in the story is quite impressive, I liked this
One of the flaws I found in this book is that I expected some nastiness to come from the goodies, too, as some of their stories were too smooth ().
The women in this book need a special praise. Ethalia, Valiana and Queen Aline, so smart, strong, fierce, courageous and loyal. Also I want to join the massive movement “We need more Darri”! I love that girly <3
Oh and I have a really important question, why the hell do we need the ? What’s her purpose in this book? To hells with this old hag!!!!!! :O
Narrative. The series isn’t perfect, but it’s quite enjoyable and engaging. Together with twists and turns it leads to some kind of HEA, which sadly is short-lived. As it was in the previous books, the quick pace, the dark violent style mixed with love, faith, compassion, friendship and goodness. Still not much of magic. Oh and I was a bit annoyed by the pattern. The guys rush somewhere to reach smth/save smth/sb, then it turns out that the real threat is somewhere else and they need to hurry there, it played well in the first two books, but in the third one it’s just too repetitive.
To sum up, it’s quite an entertaining and emotionally draining story with dark and brutal moments which grips and puts away at the same time, but I know that I’ll be joining Greatcoats for their final adventure for sure! 😊
June 22, 2017
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
Saint’s Blood is as close to perfect as a fantasy book gets. It has hilarious characters, serious moments, jaw-dropping fights, realistic plots, and the dramatic depth to completely sweep you into another world. Sebastien de Castell outdoing himself yet again, as he proves beyond any doubts that he is a writer of incredible talent. This Three Musketeers-like story of friendship and love, loyalty and lose, trust and faith likely to cause you to slip on your own Greatcoat, take up your trusty sword, and ride out to vanquish injustice!
Fresh off their tortuous trials and improbably victory in Knight’s Shadow, Falcio val Mond, Kest, Brasti, Valiana, and company are busy trying to secure Aline’s tenuous hold on the throne of Tristia. A feat which is nearly impossible considering the nation is overcome by corruption and intrigue, carved up by power hungry Dukes, filled with incorrigible knights, and protected by only a handful of Greatcoats. But, somehow, Valiana val Mond is holding things together, proving herself a gifted leader, as she assumes the role of Realm’s Protector. Falcio, however, seems intent on ruining everything by his insatiable need to stick the pointy end of his rapiers in every noble he meets. The fact that our beloved First Cantor of the Greatcoats isn’t quite himself anymore (due to the torture he endured during the “Lament”) making matters worse, as he stumbles from dumb decision to dumb decision.
But just when things look especially hopeless for our heroes THINGS GET WORSE!
Unexpected and overwhelming, a new threat arises. An especially vile and brutal attack upon Tristia commencing in the form of churches desecrated and Saints being summarily tortured and killed. All of this done by an unknown enemy bent on not only the destruction of Aline and the Greatcoats, but also the fundamental transformation of the realm. And while stumbling from one dangerous, devious attack to another, desperate to protect those he loves, and pushed to his limits (both physically and emotionally), Falcio val Mond begins to know true doubt, truly wondering if he and his friends can uncover the identity of their formidable enemy and find the inner strength to stop things before all they have struggled for is destroyed forever!
Now, before I go on with this review, I have to go ahead and admit something: I’m a Greatcoats fanboy. Every time I pick up the next book my first urge is to shriek for joy.
Lots of reason why that is, but the main cause is my man-crush on Falcio val Mond and his friends Kest and Brasti. These three trade quips, insult one another, and generally take turns bickering throughout. But, no matter what, they are always standing together. Our trio of Greatcoats willing to face down impossible odds, fight for improbable victory, and brave hell alongside the other; Falcio, Kest, and Brasti determined to stick together through good and bad, because they are not just friends they are family. And this deep love between them is so powerful, it makes me want to be part of the group too.
Just like brothers though, these guys can be cruel sometimes though. Funny, but cruel. A perfect example from the beginning of the book is when Falcio stumbles into yet another stupid duel with a young fighter he might not be able to beat. What do his best friends do? They cheer him on naturally.
‘This Undriel fellow really is remarkably skilled,’ Kest remarked.
Undriel. That was the bastard’s name.
Brasti came to my defense, after a fashion. ‘It’s not Falcio’s fault. He’s getting old. And slow. Also, I think he might be getting fat. Just look at him – barely four months since he beat Shuran and already he’s half the man he once was.’
And that small tidbit is merely the tip of the comedic iceberg, if you will. There are many laugh-out-loud moments in a story fraught with danger and hopelessness.
But since I’m being completely honest here I have to admit that Falcio is my favorite of the trio. (Sorry, Brasti. Don’t hate me.) This guy is exactly the kind of stubborn, haunted yet heroic swashbuckler I dreamed of growing up to be when I was young. Every time he stands up for a lost cause, refuses to kneel before the powerful, or finds a way to overcome sure defeat my inner child cheers. Falcio’s deep love and devotion to his friends as well as his deceased wife and king merely adding to my appreciation of him as a man of principles. Definitely, he has flaws, but even these are endearing rather than repulsive, because Falcio knows he has them (Kest and Brasti constantly point them out while also informing him his idiotic idealism is going to get them all killed eventually.) and attempts to correct or work around them. To say Falcio val Mond is quickly growing into one of my all-time favorite fantasy characters isn’t a real stretch.
These three Greatcoats are not alone on the stage though. Sharing it with them are several very realistic female characters: Aline, Valiana and Ethalia. Valiana is definitely my favorite of the bunch, as she steals the spotlight in her brief moments, showing a regal bearing and steady proficiency in ruling, which both humbles Falcio and makes him (and me) so proud of the woman she has grown into. As for the future Queen Aline, she is transformed here from the terrified girl of book one and the addled follower in book two to a more mature, innately skilled teenager, who fights to overcome her very real fears to become the person she must. And, lastly, there is Ethalia, Falcio’s fairy tale love interest; her role increasing tremendously, as she is transformed from merely a pretty face into an integral part of the plot and her relationship with the First Cantor of the Greatcoats takes on a definite realistic tone going forward.
But every cast of colorful characters must have a great villain to overcome, and Sebastien de Castell has provided yet another one in Saint’s Blood. I won’t say much about this dastardly demon, because I do not want to spoil anything, but the very sadistic and subtle scheme this antagonist unleashes upon Tristia is pretty damned impressive, filled with amazing twists and turns. And when the curtain is finally pulled back for the big reveal, this enemy is not all black at all, but numerous shades of gray; the seeds of madness and the reasons for the vile deeds so very reasonable and relatable, not so very different from Falcio’s own.
Since this is a swashbuckling adventure though, I’m sure many of you want to know about the fight scenes. Well, I am able to conclusive inform you that the fight scenes in Saint’s Blood are some of the best anywhere. Sebastien de Castell really getting you down into the combatants heads, teaching you what they are attempting to do as well as what they actually are able to do. Sometimes the swashbuckling action taking on the feel of real fencing instructions, sometimes the best Hollywood daring do, but never are any of the scenes dull or boring in the least. Every single encounter is fraught with peril, filled with dramatic tension. Honestly, no one writes dueling better than this author.
What did I dislike about the book though? I mean, I always find a few things to criticize, right? Well, my fellow haters will be happy to know I actually have three, minor complaints. None of them terribly earth shattering, since they didn’t ruin my vast enjoyment with this story, but they did bother me, so I am going to mention them.
One, the disappearance of characters throughout the story. A favorite elements of the series for me has been the introduction of new Greatcoats every story. How we get to learn about them as they are slowly integrated into the group. No, they don’t all become part of the inner circle around Falcio, but in the prior books, they have always revolved around the core trio and interacted with them in important ways that affected the plot. Here, however, several new Greatcoats make an appearance, take part in a few exciting scenes, hang around for a chapter or two, then disappear all together or for long stretches of time. Certainly, there is nothing inherently wrong with co-stars coming and going in a narrative, but here it was bothersome, especially since the reason for their disappearance was never mentioned or not adequately dealt with in my opinion.
Two, the reveal of the villain in this book was a bit of a disappointment. Not who or what this individual was, but the way it was done. The buildup to the confrontation between Falcio and company and this unknown antagonist was one of the best parts of Saint’s Blood. Sebastien de Castell dropping hints, laying false leads, and making you second guess everyone’s allegiance except for Falcio. So mesmerizing was this lead up to our villain stepping out of the shadows that I was expecting magic fireworks, huge explosions, or a “WHAT THE HELL!” moment to rival George R.R. Martin’s Hodor. I didn’t really get that. At least, not to the extent I was expecting and desiring.
Third, too much Ethalia and not enough Valiana. In the author’s defense, the story is structured in such a way that Ethalia having the more prominent role in this narrative is inevitable. Be that as it may, Valiana is much more interesting to me than Ethalia, so I am going to mention my disappointment. And it isn’t that I dislike Ethalia at all, because I don’t. Unfortunately, she does bore me, even this new and improved Ethalia. Valiana, on the other hand, is a strong woman with big issues in her past who I would love to learn more about and see utilized to the utmost. I know I’m whining a little, but I’m allowed to do that since I have now admitted to being a fanboy of this series.
What you should take away from this rather lengthy review is that I highly recommend Greatcoats books to anyone! They are pure swashbuckling fun that have more than enough dark and bloody turns to keep more grimdark inclined fans entertained. So go ahead and read them already, you know you want to.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
Saint’s Blood is as close to perfect as a fantasy book gets. It has hilarious characters, serious moments, jaw-dropping fights, realistic plots, and the dramatic depth to completely sweep you into another world. Sebastien de Castell outdoing himself yet again, as he proves beyond any doubts that he is a writer of incredible talent. This Three Musketeers-like story of friendship and love, loyalty and lose, trust and faith likely to cause you to slip on your own Greatcoat, take up your trusty sword, and ride out to vanquish injustice!
Fresh off their tortuous trials and improbably victory in Knight’s Shadow, Falcio val Mond, Kest, Brasti, Valiana, and company are busy trying to secure Aline’s tenuous hold on the throne of Tristia. A feat which is nearly impossible considering the nation is overcome by corruption and intrigue, carved up by power hungry Dukes, filled with incorrigible knights, and protected by only a handful of Greatcoats. But, somehow, Valiana val Mond is holding things together, proving herself a gifted leader, as she assumes the role of Realm’s Protector. Falcio, however, seems intent on ruining everything by his insatiable need to stick the pointy end of his rapiers in every noble he meets. The fact that our beloved First Cantor of the Greatcoats isn’t quite himself anymore (due to the torture he endured during the “Lament”) making matters worse, as he stumbles from dumb decision to dumb decision.
But just when things look especially hopeless for our heroes THINGS GET WORSE!
Unexpected and overwhelming, a new threat arises. An especially vile and brutal attack upon Tristia commencing in the form of churches desecrated and Saints being summarily tortured and killed. All of this done by an unknown enemy bent on not only the destruction of Aline and the Greatcoats, but also the fundamental transformation of the realm. And while stumbling from one dangerous, devious attack to another, desperate to protect those he loves, and pushed to his limits (both physically and emotionally), Falcio val Mond begins to know true doubt, truly wondering if he and his friends can uncover the identity of their formidable enemy and find the inner strength to stop things before all they have struggled for is destroyed forever!
Now, before I go on with this review, I have to go ahead and admit something: I’m a Greatcoats fanboy. Every time I pick up the next book my first urge is to shriek for joy.
Lots of reason why that is, but the main cause is my man-crush on Falcio val Mond and his friends Kest and Brasti. These three trade quips, insult one another, and generally take turns bickering throughout. But, no matter what, they are always standing together. Our trio of Greatcoats willing to face down impossible odds, fight for improbable victory, and brave hell alongside the other; Falcio, Kest, and Brasti determined to stick together through good and bad, because they are not just friends they are family. And this deep love between them is so powerful, it makes me want to be part of the group too.
Just like brothers though, these guys can be cruel sometimes though. Funny, but cruel. A perfect example from the beginning of the book is when Falcio stumbles into yet another stupid duel with a young fighter he might not be able to beat. What do his best friends do? They cheer him on naturally.
‘This Undriel fellow really is remarkably skilled,’ Kest remarked.
Undriel. That was the bastard’s name.
Brasti came to my defense, after a fashion. ‘It’s not Falcio’s fault. He’s getting old. And slow. Also, I think he might be getting fat. Just look at him – barely four months since he beat Shuran and already he’s half the man he once was.’
And that small tidbit is merely the tip of the comedic iceberg, if you will. There are many laugh-out-loud moments in a story fraught with danger and hopelessness.
But since I’m being completely honest here I have to admit that Falcio is my favorite of the trio. (Sorry, Brasti. Don’t hate me.) This guy is exactly the kind of stubborn, haunted yet heroic swashbuckler I dreamed of growing up to be when I was young. Every time he stands up for a lost cause, refuses to kneel before the powerful, or finds a way to overcome sure defeat my inner child cheers. Falcio’s deep love and devotion to his friends as well as his deceased wife and king merely adding to my appreciation of him as a man of principles. Definitely, he has flaws, but even these are endearing rather than repulsive, because Falcio knows he has them (Kest and Brasti constantly point them out while also informing him his idiotic idealism is going to get them all killed eventually.) and attempts to correct or work around them. To say Falcio val Mond is quickly growing into one of my all-time favorite fantasy characters isn’t a real stretch.
These three Greatcoats are not alone on the stage though. Sharing it with them are several very realistic female characters: Aline, Valiana and Ethalia. Valiana is definitely my favorite of the bunch, as she steals the spotlight in her brief moments, showing a regal bearing and steady proficiency in ruling, which both humbles Falcio and makes him (and me) so proud of the woman she has grown into. As for the future Queen Aline, she is transformed here from the terrified girl of book one and the addled follower in book two to a more mature, innately skilled teenager, who fights to overcome her very real fears to become the person she must. And, lastly, there is Ethalia, Falcio’s fairy tale love interest; her role increasing tremendously, as she is transformed from merely a pretty face into an integral part of the plot and her relationship with the First Cantor of the Greatcoats takes on a definite realistic tone going forward.
But every cast of colorful characters must have a great villain to overcome, and Sebastien de Castell has provided yet another one in Saint’s Blood. I won’t say much about this dastardly demon, because I do not want to spoil anything, but the very sadistic and subtle scheme this antagonist unleashes upon Tristia is pretty damned impressive, filled with amazing twists and turns. And when the curtain is finally pulled back for the big reveal, this enemy is not all black at all, but numerous shades of gray; the seeds of madness and the reasons for the vile deeds so very reasonable and relatable, not so very different from Falcio’s own.
Since this is a swashbuckling adventure though, I’m sure many of you want to know about the fight scenes. Well, I am able to conclusive inform you that the fight scenes in Saint’s Blood are some of the best anywhere. Sebastien de Castell really getting you down into the combatants heads, teaching you what they are attempting to do as well as what they actually are able to do. Sometimes the swashbuckling action taking on the feel of real fencing instructions, sometimes the best Hollywood daring do, but never are any of the scenes dull or boring in the least. Every single encounter is fraught with peril, filled with dramatic tension. Honestly, no one writes dueling better than this author.
What did I dislike about the book though? I mean, I always find a few things to criticize, right? Well, my fellow haters will be happy to know I actually have three, minor complaints. None of them terribly earth shattering, since they didn’t ruin my vast enjoyment with this story, but they did bother me, so I am going to mention them.
One, the disappearance of characters throughout the story. A favorite elements of the series for me has been the introduction of new Greatcoats every story. How we get to learn about them as they are slowly integrated into the group. No, they don’t all become part of the inner circle around Falcio, but in the prior books, they have always revolved around the core trio and interacted with them in important ways that affected the plot. Here, however, several new Greatcoats make an appearance, take part in a few exciting scenes, hang around for a chapter or two, then disappear all together or for long stretches of time. Certainly, there is nothing inherently wrong with co-stars coming and going in a narrative, but here it was bothersome, especially since the reason for their disappearance was never mentioned or not adequately dealt with in my opinion.
Two, the reveal of the villain in this book was a bit of a disappointment. Not who or what this individual was, but the way it was done. The buildup to the confrontation between Falcio and company and this unknown antagonist was one of the best parts of Saint’s Blood. Sebastien de Castell dropping hints, laying false leads, and making you second guess everyone’s allegiance except for Falcio. So mesmerizing was this lead up to our villain stepping out of the shadows that I was expecting magic fireworks, huge explosions, or a “WHAT THE HELL!” moment to rival George R.R. Martin’s Hodor. I didn’t really get that. At least, not to the extent I was expecting and desiring.
Third, too much Ethalia and not enough Valiana. In the author’s defense, the story is structured in such a way that Ethalia having the more prominent role in this narrative is inevitable. Be that as it may, Valiana is much more interesting to me than Ethalia, so I am going to mention my disappointment. And it isn’t that I dislike Ethalia at all, because I don’t. Unfortunately, she does bore me, even this new and improved Ethalia. Valiana, on the other hand, is a strong woman with big issues in her past who I would love to learn more about and see utilized to the utmost. I know I’m whining a little, but I’m allowed to do that since I have now admitted to being a fanboy of this series.
What you should take away from this rather lengthy review is that I highly recommend Greatcoats books to anyone! They are pure swashbuckling fun that have more than enough dark and bloody turns to keep more grimdark inclined fans entertained. So go ahead and read them already, you know you want to.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
November 29, 2017
Saint’s Blood was everything I could have asked for in a penultimate to a series and deserved to be awarded the full 5-stars for such an amazing reading experience. It made me laugh and it made me cry. It also made me curious, anxious, frustrated and finally
it made my heart soar
. When a book is able to make me feel so much, it is right and just for me to place it among my favourites.
The pacing of the plot was, in my opinion, close to perfect with a slightly slower build-up at the beginning to lay the groundwork of the larger peril Tristia was facing aside from just petty, despicable Dukes. I realised that I love mystery elements even in fantasy as I was fascinated and pulled in by the gradual unravelling of the identity of the person and the reason behind the rampant killing of the Saints. Arising from this narrative, we learnt more about the Gods and Saints which we’ve so far only been able to appreciate in small doses; most intriguing being the purpose of Saints in a world that already has its Gods.
Faith has always been nebulous, inherently hard to break but also terribly easy to pervert. This is why religion has been consistently the predominant cause for conflict and war, and in these modern times, terrorism. Religious fanaticism and self-righteousness can literally destroy the concept of what is just, right and lawful. And that is the main theme underlying the story in Saint’s Blood. While there isn’t a single scene in here that can beat the Lament from Knight's Shadow in terms of grimness, I find that the overall theme around faith, fear and religion to be darker. For one thing, the formation of the zealots was positively sickening. I also find the action and fight scenes more brutal in this installment.
While the story was engaging, what captivated me the most was the character development. I just cannot begin to describe how masterfully executed the development of the main and supporting characters was in this book; all the more impressive given that it was written in first person perspective of Falcio only. This was splendidly complemented with believable interaction between the characters and great dialogue.
The wonderful trio of Falcio, Kest and Brasti and their bromance completely slayed me and turned me into mush inside. There is just so much love, compassion and loyalty between these three badass Greatcoats, and it’s all doled out with lashings of humour that one needs to have a heart of stone not to love these guys.
The growth in the female characters was equally fantastic, if not more, given that they were not the main characters and hence had less page-time. Valiana’s cunning, strength and courage continues to astound, but the most amazing change of all can be seen in young Aline who surprised everyone. Meanwhile, Ethalia progressed from being a side character to one of great importance in the larger scheme of things.
One unexpected individual in particular, which elevated the characterisation in Saint’s Blood from great to masterful was that of a ‘villain’, one whom I used to view as despicable but has now risen in my esteem.
The climax and denouement of the plot in Saint’s Blood was utterly satisfying, to say the least. I am ever enthralled by stories of the best of humanity in the face of the worst and this book delivered an abundance of amazing moments that were gloriously heartwarming. I will move onto the last book with both trepidation and anticipation, as this one will be quite hard to beat.
This review can also be found at Booknest
The pacing of the plot was, in my opinion, close to perfect with a slightly slower build-up at the beginning to lay the groundwork of the larger peril Tristia was facing aside from just petty, despicable Dukes. I realised that I love mystery elements even in fantasy as I was fascinated and pulled in by the gradual unravelling of the identity of the person and the reason behind the rampant killing of the Saints. Arising from this narrative, we learnt more about the Gods and Saints which we’ve so far only been able to appreciate in small doses; most intriguing being the purpose of Saints in a world that already has its Gods.
Truth is being buried under deception, faith drowned by fear.
Faith has always been nebulous, inherently hard to break but also terribly easy to pervert. This is why religion has been consistently the predominant cause for conflict and war, and in these modern times, terrorism. Religious fanaticism and self-righteousness can literally destroy the concept of what is just, right and lawful. And that is the main theme underlying the story in Saint’s Blood. While there isn’t a single scene in here that can beat the Lament from Knight's Shadow in terms of grimness, I find that the overall theme around faith, fear and religion to be darker. For one thing, the formation of the zealots was positively sickening. I also find the action and fight scenes more brutal in this installment.
While the story was engaging, what captivated me the most was the character development. I just cannot begin to describe how masterfully executed the development of the main and supporting characters was in this book; all the more impressive given that it was written in first person perspective of Falcio only. This was splendidly complemented with believable interaction between the characters and great dialogue.
Three broken men trying to pretend we can continue living in the past.
The wonderful trio of Falcio, Kest and Brasti and their bromance completely slayed me and turned me into mush inside. There is just so much love, compassion and loyalty between these three badass Greatcoats, and it’s all doled out with lashings of humour that one needs to have a heart of stone not to love these guys.
”So just answer me this: if you’re beside me, are my chances of failing more or less than they would be without you?”
-----------------------
“I can’t think of one reason why I’d want to hug you.”
“I can think of one.”
“Yeah? What would that be.”
“Because if you don’t get off your ass and stand up so that I can hug you, I’m going to kiss you right on the mouth.”
The growth in the female characters was equally fantastic, if not more, given that they were not the main characters and hence had less page-time. Valiana’s cunning, strength and courage continues to astound, but the most amazing change of all can be seen in young Aline who surprised everyone. Meanwhile, Ethalia progressed from being a side character to one of great importance in the larger scheme of things.
One unexpected individual in particular, which elevated the characterisation in Saint’s Blood from great to masterful was that of a ‘villain’, one whom I used to view as despicable but has now risen in my esteem.
But no man is all one thing; none of us are pure in our beliefs or our devotions. We are all bound by the frailties of our humanity, some of which feed our hatred, some of which, very occasionally, make us want to be something better.
The climax and denouement of the plot in Saint’s Blood was utterly satisfying, to say the least. I am ever enthralled by stories of the best of humanity in the face of the worst and this book delivered an abundance of amazing moments that were gloriously heartwarming. I will move onto the last book with both trepidation and anticipation, as this one will be quite hard to beat.
This review can also be found at Booknest
April 27, 2020
Check out my review for this fantastic book on Grimdark Magazine at: Grimdark Magazine
Saints Blood is the almighty penultimate entry into the Greatcoats series. Grab your bow, grab your broadsword or rapier, grab your greatcoat, fore the Saints are dying and the Gods are coming.
“Why is life so much easier to live when people are trying to take it from you than when you’re forced to actually live it?”
It’s been a while since I read Knight’s Shadow and from the first chapter in Saint’s Blood I realised how much I had missed the unique and dynamic relationships of Falcio, Kest and Brasti. Taking some time away from our three Greatcoats showed me how they have all grown as characters from book 1 (Traitor’s Blade - if you haven’t read it, read it). They have gone through so much together and it really reflected in each of their engagements. They are still the hilariously, laugh-out-loud funny trio of friends, still giving each other banter that I will never get bored of. Each character had a moment or several to shine, moments to reflect and moments to be utterly awesome.
The plot follows the overarching theme similar to books 1 and 2, though with some great twists that set up the final instalment perfectly. I won’t go into details of the plots and arcs as this is the 3rd of the series and spoilers would be intertwined with any info so just know this - each move the characters make is logical and believable whilst always being shocking and unexpected and the twists are real.
“I walked over and hugged him, knowing it would only make things worse for him. I don’t get that many chances to torture Brasti.”
Coming from the POV of someone who is obsessed with doing good, fighting evil and championing the right thing can be dull and overwritten if done incorrectly but Falcio is an epic character who really calls for you to sit in his corner and cheer him along. He has a love interest which can be slow and not as exciting as the rest of the scenes but hey, we don’t mind that when the rest of the book is so good! There is urgency within the characters as they always feel three steps behind those who are seeking to destroy what they stand for.
If you haven’t read Sebastien de Castell before then take the plunge, you won’t regret it. Each scene is full of hilarity, intense and exhilarating duels, torture scenes, philosophical conversations and arguments and the shimmering of hope within a dark world. It resembles the musketeers with the group dynamics and the rapiers, with depth that is enhanced with each book. I for one cannot wait to dive into the final entry, no matter how nervous I feel about what is going to happen to my favourites!
“But no man is all one thing; none of us are pure in our beliefs or our devotions. We are all bound by the frailties of our humanity, some of which feed our hatred, some of which, very occasionally, make us want to be something better.”
5/5 - Saint’s Blood is another epic instalment into the Greatcoats series. You are guaranteed to love the three main characters, they have not lost any of their wit or charm. The secondary characters are as always strong and really add to the growing tension and terror in this book, making me very excited for the final book, Tyrant’s Throne. Let me know what you think of this series!
Saints Blood is the almighty penultimate entry into the Greatcoats series. Grab your bow, grab your broadsword or rapier, grab your greatcoat, fore the Saints are dying and the Gods are coming.
“Why is life so much easier to live when people are trying to take it from you than when you’re forced to actually live it?”
It’s been a while since I read Knight’s Shadow and from the first chapter in Saint’s Blood I realised how much I had missed the unique and dynamic relationships of Falcio, Kest and Brasti. Taking some time away from our three Greatcoats showed me how they have all grown as characters from book 1 (Traitor’s Blade - if you haven’t read it, read it). They have gone through so much together and it really reflected in each of their engagements. They are still the hilariously, laugh-out-loud funny trio of friends, still giving each other banter that I will never get bored of. Each character had a moment or several to shine, moments to reflect and moments to be utterly awesome.
The plot follows the overarching theme similar to books 1 and 2, though with some great twists that set up the final instalment perfectly. I won’t go into details of the plots and arcs as this is the 3rd of the series and spoilers would be intertwined with any info so just know this - each move the characters make is logical and believable whilst always being shocking and unexpected and the twists are real.
“I walked over and hugged him, knowing it would only make things worse for him. I don’t get that many chances to torture Brasti.”
Coming from the POV of someone who is obsessed with doing good, fighting evil and championing the right thing can be dull and overwritten if done incorrectly but Falcio is an epic character who really calls for you to sit in his corner and cheer him along. He has a love interest which can be slow and not as exciting as the rest of the scenes but hey, we don’t mind that when the rest of the book is so good! There is urgency within the characters as they always feel three steps behind those who are seeking to destroy what they stand for.
If you haven’t read Sebastien de Castell before then take the plunge, you won’t regret it. Each scene is full of hilarity, intense and exhilarating duels, torture scenes, philosophical conversations and arguments and the shimmering of hope within a dark world. It resembles the musketeers with the group dynamics and the rapiers, with depth that is enhanced with each book. I for one cannot wait to dive into the final entry, no matter how nervous I feel about what is going to happen to my favourites!
“But no man is all one thing; none of us are pure in our beliefs or our devotions. We are all bound by the frailties of our humanity, some of which feed our hatred, some of which, very occasionally, make us want to be something better.”
5/5 - Saint’s Blood is another epic instalment into the Greatcoats series. You are guaranteed to love the three main characters, they have not lost any of their wit or charm. The secondary characters are as always strong and really add to the growing tension and terror in this book, making me very excited for the final book, Tyrant’s Throne. Let me know what you think of this series!
May 1, 2017
Reading all three Greatcoats installments back-to-back, it's rather hard to write separate and different reviews for each one. Saint's Blood is exactly like the first 2 installments of the Greatcoats series. I don't like to get repetitive, but I have nothing different to offer here. De Castell's books are characterized as high fantasy with a fairy tale aura to it, with fast (yet relaxing) pacing, unexpected circumstances, witty humor, and greatly developed characters.
In Saint's Blood you will find again the same episodic feel to it, as with the other books, although this time the story seems to develop further down the line of the main arc, leaving the smaller arcs behind. Some topics (like the Falcio-Ethalia love story) get repetitive and rather boring, but this is to be expected. Another nice part of the story is the moral and theological issues raised, as well as the inner struggles of the protagonists.
"You don't reason with mobs for the same reason you don't reason with hordes of fire ants: they're too stupid to understand what you're saying and eventually they'll just swarm over you. Which isn't to say you don't talk to them. Words are important. Words are, by and large, what got them to become a mob in the first place."
All in all, Tyrant's Throne is a great book from an even greater author. If you liked the previous 2 Greatcoats installments, you should undoubtedly proceed to the 3rd.
You can find more of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
In Saint's Blood you will find again the same episodic feel to it, as with the other books, although this time the story seems to develop further down the line of the main arc, leaving the smaller arcs behind. Some topics (like the Falcio-Ethalia love story) get repetitive and rather boring, but this is to be expected. Another nice part of the story is the moral and theological issues raised, as well as the inner struggles of the protagonists.
"You don't reason with mobs for the same reason you don't reason with hordes of fire ants: they're too stupid to understand what you're saying and eventually they'll just swarm over you. Which isn't to say you don't talk to them. Words are important. Words are, by and large, what got them to become a mob in the first place."
All in all, Tyrant's Throne is a great book from an even greater author. If you liked the previous 2 Greatcoats installments, you should undoubtedly proceed to the 3rd.
You can find more of my reviews over at http://BookNest.eu/
August 13, 2020
Sale Alert: Kindle daily deal on 13Aug20 for $1.99 on Amazon
Magic + the Three Musketeers
This is a bit complicated. There are parts of this book I struggled with but then there is this huge emotional impact that it had on me so part of me thinks the story is only a 3 star read and then the other part of me that burst into tears and thought that the last 20% was amazing thinks it is a 5 star read. Since I’m more of an emotional reader and care about how the story makes me feel that means this skews slightly to the 5 Star end of things for a rating of 4.5 Stars.
There are things that are awesome in this book. The entire plot with the who/how the Saints are being killed was amazing and dark and maybe the most disturbing thing thus far in the series. The character development of Valiana, Aline and Duke Jillard was also exceptional. Aline really came into her own during this book. I was so impressed with how well her training with Valiana was going and the woman she is becoming.
Sabastian De Castelle does this pretty amazing thing where his story is actually incredibly dark with intense and horrible moments everywhere that lead you with the characters into these deep moments of despair but then he tempers that with a quick wit and great humor that make you forget how much you are hurting and then give you great lines and glimmers of hope that carry you through the story.
There is this great bromance between Falcio, Brasti and Kest that I love the most and even in times of great despair in the story it carries me through. I love how loyal they are to each other and how well they play off one another. Brasti’s practical jokes are pretty funny but the men’s reactions to them are even more so.
Falcio is still the broken man that will through himself into the thick of danger for a cause, any woman (except Trin maybe) or just to liven up the boredom. Okay maybe not that last one but the man does like to toss the dice and put himself through the ringer until you are uncertain how he can possibly go on.
Besides the Greatcoats I really enjoyed getting a better look into a few of the workings of the Baristi. They roam around spreading news and tales with their music which also has a certain type of language in it that you can only decipher if you are one of the Baristi. Plus they give Falcio a hard time (in a fun and endearin way) and that in itself is why I like them. But their brand of magic is different and cool.
Tommer became another favorite addition to the story very quickly and if you haven’t yet you should read the letter he wrote (it is after the Acknowledgements page). That actually bumped up the story for me at least half a star.
With so many great things going on you are probably wondering what my issue was with the book. Well shockingly for me (seriously this is a first) the Romance was off. This is a Three Musketeers with Magic type book for me but the relationship between Falcio and Ethalia was focused on quite a bit. My issue is probably that I still love Falcio’s dead wife that has driven all of his actions so far and while Ethalia is okay she just isn’t Aline who we still get to see in glimpses here and there.
I never really totally bought into their very quick forming love and there are reasons for that which became apparent in this book. But that said I didn’t really want to see it since I was far more interested in who was killing the saints and why.
It really takes until the end of the book to uncover why they are having so many issues and I might like Ethalia a little more going forward because her character definitely gets a push in the right direction and she might be awesome in the next book. There is hope for her anyway.
My other issue was the fighting. There were a ton of one on one fights or Falcio taking on this foe or that. I sometimes get a little bored with fighting, especially if it goes on for a long period of time. While the foes Falcio and crew where fighting were sorta great and creepy it still was a lot of time in the middle of fights.
To Sum Up
Plusses:
+ Bromance of Falcio, Kest and Brasti
+ Valiana, Aline and Jillard (who knew) Character development
+ Tommer (you’ll see why)
+ The Brasti and their songs
+ The Dark and Evil Villains
+ Plot line for killing the Saints
Minuses:
- Romance Focus (I really can’t believe I said that.)
- My boredom during some of the very well written and accurate but hey I’m a girl so I don’t care so much fight scenes.
Magic + the Three Musketeers
This is a bit complicated. There are parts of this book I struggled with but then there is this huge emotional impact that it had on me so part of me thinks the story is only a 3 star read and then the other part of me that burst into tears and thought that the last 20% was amazing thinks it is a 5 star read. Since I’m more of an emotional reader and care about how the story makes me feel that means this skews slightly to the 5 Star end of things for a rating of 4.5 Stars.
There are things that are awesome in this book. The entire plot with the who/how the Saints are being killed was amazing and dark and maybe the most disturbing thing thus far in the series. The character development of Valiana, Aline and Duke Jillard was also exceptional. Aline really came into her own during this book. I was so impressed with how well her training with Valiana was going and the woman she is becoming.
“You have met the King’s Heart and you have met the King’s Arrow,” Aline said to the leader of the Knights, then paused to wink at me. “Best that none of you try the King’s Patience.” […] I tried to smile back before she turned away, but I couldn’t: I was overwhelmed. Whatever these men had expected— whatever I had expected— Aline was something entirely different. Valiana had trained her these past months, she had nurtured her and helped her to find the strength I hadn’t believed she truly had.
Sabastian De Castelle does this pretty amazing thing where his story is actually incredibly dark with intense and horrible moments everywhere that lead you with the characters into these deep moments of despair but then he tempers that with a quick wit and great humor that make you forget how much you are hurting and then give you great lines and glimmers of hope that carry you through the story.
There is this great bromance between Falcio, Brasti and Kest that I love the most and even in times of great despair in the story it carries me through. I love how loyal they are to each other and how well they play off one another. Brasti’s practical jokes are pretty funny but the men’s reactions to them are even more so.
“Let him go, Kest.”
“Really?” Kest asked, his left hand still firmly in control of Brasti’s fingers.
I pushed myself to sit up. “If you break his hand now then how am I going to enjoy the full satisfaction of tearing his fingers off later on?”
“Ah,” Kest said, and let go of him. “Good point.”
“Now wait a minute, Falcio . . .” Brasti began.
I smiled. “You’ll never know when, Brasti. Maybe tomorrow, maybe ten years from now . . .” I paused for a long moment, then said, “No, probably tomorrow.”
Falcio is still the broken man that will through himself into the thick of danger for a cause, any woman (except Trin maybe) or just to liven up the boredom. Okay maybe not that last one but the man does like to toss the dice and put himself through the ringer until you are uncertain how he can possibly go on.
“This is what you do, you know,” Brasti called out.
“What’s that?”
“When you’re tired. When you’re scared. You throw yourself into fights you have no real chance of winning.”
I searched around for a clever reply but the truth was, Brasti had made a surprisingly insightful observation.
“You’re right,” I said.
“Then why keep doing it?” I stepped into the crowd.
“Because it’s the only thing I know how to do that ever works.”
Besides the Greatcoats I really enjoyed getting a better look into a few of the workings of the Baristi. They roam around spreading news and tales with their music which also has a certain type of language in it that you can only decipher if you are one of the Baristi. Plus they give Falcio a hard time (in a fun and endearin way) and that in itself is why I like them. But their brand of magic is different and cool.
Tommer became another favorite addition to the story very quickly and if you haven’t yet you should read the letter he wrote (it is after the Acknowledgements page). That actually bumped up the story for me at least half a star.
With so many great things going on you are probably wondering what my issue was with the book. Well shockingly for me (seriously this is a first) the Romance was off. This is a Three Musketeers with Magic type book for me but the relationship between Falcio and Ethalia was focused on quite a bit. My issue is probably that I still love Falcio’s dead wife that has driven all of his actions so far and while Ethalia is okay she just isn’t Aline who we still get to see in glimpses here and there.
I never really totally bought into their very quick forming love and there are reasons for that which became apparent in this book. But that said I didn’t really want to see it since I was far more interested in who was killing the saints and why.
It really takes until the end of the book to uncover why they are having so many issues and I might like Ethalia a little more going forward because her character definitely gets a push in the right direction and she might be awesome in the next book. There is hope for her anyway.
My other issue was the fighting. There were a ton of one on one fights or Falcio taking on this foe or that. I sometimes get a little bored with fighting, especially if it goes on for a long period of time. While the foes Falcio and crew where fighting were sorta great and creepy it still was a lot of time in the middle of fights.
To Sum Up
Plusses:
+ Bromance of Falcio, Kest and Brasti
+ Valiana, Aline and Jillard (who knew) Character development
+ Tommer (you’ll see why)
+ The Brasti and their songs
+ The Dark and Evil Villains
+ Plot line for killing the Saints
Minuses:
- Romance Focus (I really can’t believe I said that.)
- My boredom during some of the very well written and accurate but hey I’m a girl so I don’t care so much fight scenes.
November 1, 2018
Saint’s Blood is the third book in Sebastien de Castell’s Greatcoats series and I highly recommend that you read the first two books Traitor’s Blade and Knight’s Shadow as they are both quality reads that are well worth your time.
All of the main characters, Falcio, Kest, Brasti, Aline, Valiana and Ethalia continue to grow and develop both in character and in their relationships, as do all of the smaller characters who while playing a role in the story aren’t the main players.
While there’s a fairly large cast of characters, Falcio, Kest and Brasti are the core trio, to borrow a phrase alot of reviewers seem to say they are the swashbuckling fantasy version of the Three Musketeers.All three have individual personalities and are different in their own way. Together they have such a strong bond of friendship and the interplay, camaraderie and banter between them is one of the many highlights of the series.
This is a great series, that gets better with each book, while Traitor’s Blade was good, an impressive debut and decent start to the series, Knight’s Shadow improved on it in every way and with Saint’s Blood de Castell has managed yet again to top his previous books . The writing is of an exceptional standard, there are no wasted words and the story moves along at a fast pace, pages flying by as you follow Falcio and his merry bunch on their epic, dark, despairing, harrowing and at times both hopeless and hopeful tale. Your pulled in from the first page through to the last in this fast paced, character driven epic where come the final page you are left wanting more!
Sebastien de Castell has created an outstanding book that is a masterpiece in storytelling and modern fantasy.
All of the main characters, Falcio, Kest, Brasti, Aline, Valiana and Ethalia continue to grow and develop both in character and in their relationships, as do all of the smaller characters who while playing a role in the story aren’t the main players.
While there’s a fairly large cast of characters, Falcio, Kest and Brasti are the core trio, to borrow a phrase alot of reviewers seem to say they are the swashbuckling fantasy version of the Three Musketeers.All three have individual personalities and are different in their own way. Together they have such a strong bond of friendship and the interplay, camaraderie and banter between them is one of the many highlights of the series.
This is a great series, that gets better with each book, while Traitor’s Blade was good, an impressive debut and decent start to the series, Knight’s Shadow improved on it in every way and with Saint’s Blood de Castell has managed yet again to top his previous books . The writing is of an exceptional standard, there are no wasted words and the story moves along at a fast pace, pages flying by as you follow Falcio and his merry bunch on their epic, dark, despairing, harrowing and at times both hopeless and hopeful tale. Your pulled in from the first page through to the last in this fast paced, character driven epic where come the final page you are left wanting more!
Sebastien de Castell has created an outstanding book that is a masterpiece in storytelling and modern fantasy.
July 17, 2018
I feel that the Greatcoats series is getting slightly weaker with each passing book but that Saint's Blood was still an enjoyable enough read despite its flaws. There were things that annoyed me in the story but I do still love the witty banter between the characters and I still find de Castell's writing quite engaging.
There was plenty going on in this third book in the series. With Valiana installed as regent of Tristia the Greatcoats are tasked with getting the laws of the country back up and running. Not that the Dukes and Duchesses of Tristia are ready to give up their own claims to power. To make matters even worse Falcio and his team have a religious uprising to worry about!
The plot was OK. I enjoyed learning more about both the magic and the religion of Tristia and felt like it was definitely time that de Castell got around to fleshing out the background of the Gods and the Saints. If I had a complaint about the story it is that de Castell is falling into the trap of trying to sell Falcio as an underdog in every singe fight. It came off as a little ridiculous! The other big downside for this third instalment of the series was that both the start and end of the story were a little weak.
The characters and the humor remain the big winners. Falcio, Brasti, and Kest were as fun as ever and by this stage both Aline and Valiana are both established as likeable characters who are easy to admire and root for in their own right. We got to meet a few interesting new characters as some of the Kings old Greatcoats found their way back to Falcio's command.
I cannot say I'm super happy with the Falcio/Ethalia stuff we got. Just when I think things cannot get any worse de Castell proves me wrong and botches things even worse!
All in all I felt like this was an enjoyable enough read but that it holds too many frustrating elements for it to ever bee a real favourite of mine. I do still enjoy the series and am definitely looking to see how it all ends in the next book!
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'm rounding down to 3 stars this time as I do not feel like this was as strong a book as Knight's Shadow.
Audio Note: I feel like Joe Jameson has done a good job with the audios for this whole series.
There was plenty going on in this third book in the series. With Valiana installed as regent of Tristia the Greatcoats are tasked with getting the laws of the country back up and running. Not that the Dukes and Duchesses of Tristia are ready to give up their own claims to power. To make matters even worse Falcio and his team have a religious uprising to worry about!
The plot was OK. I enjoyed learning more about both the magic and the religion of Tristia and felt like it was definitely time that de Castell got around to fleshing out the background of the Gods and the Saints. If I had a complaint about the story it is that de Castell is falling into the trap of trying to sell Falcio as an underdog in every singe fight. It came off as a little ridiculous! The other big downside for this third instalment of the series was that both the start and end of the story were a little weak.
The characters and the humor remain the big winners. Falcio, Brasti, and Kest were as fun as ever and by this stage both Aline and Valiana are both established as likeable characters who are easy to admire and root for in their own right. We got to meet a few interesting new characters as some of the Kings old Greatcoats found their way back to Falcio's command.
I cannot say I'm super happy with the Falcio/Ethalia stuff we got. Just when I think things cannot get any worse de Castell proves me wrong and botches things even worse!
All in all I felt like this was an enjoyable enough read but that it holds too many frustrating elements for it to ever bee a real favourite of mine. I do still enjoy the series and am definitely looking to see how it all ends in the next book!
Rating: 3.5 stars. I'm rounding down to 3 stars this time as I do not feel like this was as strong a book as Knight's Shadow.
Audio Note: I feel like Joe Jameson has done a good job with the audios for this whole series.
August 6, 2021
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Traitor's Blade ★★★ 1/2
Knight's Shadow ★★★★
Saint's Blood ★★★
Saint’s blood per se is not a bad book, my problem with it is that it was repetitive and I had this with the author’s other series “Spellslinger”. Both series have potential and they start good but then books start to sound the same. The Greatcoats is certainly the superior series but still found this one predictable.
The writing is good when it comes to the prose, I don’t have any problems with that and I do enjoy the occasional banter but those speeches are starting to get on my nerves because they seem to be the solution to every single problem in this series.
The characters are both what I love and what I hate about this series. I don’t know how my beloved Brasti can be such an excellent archer when he’s always holding the book on his shoulders. Falcio does seem to grow as a character and at the same time he doesn’t. I am just tired of his speeches, I was never a big fan of his romance and he is a good duelist so for once, just let him shut up and duel! It is like he is having his same thoughts and then Brasti or Kest snap at him and he realizes what they are saying is true and can’t argue with that. Kest was so passive in this entry and he felt like a shadow of the Kest that we know, specially that he was so central in the last book.
Also why do they insist that Aline is grown up and should act her age when she is only 14 -previously 13- and in this book she felt precocious to me.
I am afraid that there was a plot in this book but it was predictable and it did not move the bigger story forward. I once predicted the plot of one of the Spellslinger books in my pre-reading review and then I was a 100% spot on when I finished the book and this felt almost the same. I hope the final book ties everything up and is not another kind of a filler story.
The world-building is good and I enjoy the Saints and the Gods and I do hope it improves more in the finale.
Summary: In my review of the Knight’s Shadow, I mentioned that I was scared of repetitions which I unfortunately faced in this book. I do like the world and the banter, I feel the characters are lovable but there are details that irked me and I couldn’t ignore. As mentioned above, not a bad book by itself but from a third book in the series, I expected more!
“Deato mendea valus febletta. The Gods give every man a weakness.”
Traitor's Blade ★★★ 1/2
Knight's Shadow ★★★★
Saint's Blood ★★★
Saint’s blood per se is not a bad book, my problem with it is that it was repetitive and I had this with the author’s other series “Spellslinger”. Both series have potential and they start good but then books start to sound the same. The Greatcoats is certainly the superior series but still found this one predictable.
The writing is good when it comes to the prose, I don’t have any problems with that and I do enjoy the occasional banter but those speeches are starting to get on my nerves because they seem to be the solution to every single problem in this series.
The characters are both what I love and what I hate about this series. I don’t know how my beloved Brasti can be such an excellent archer when he’s always holding the book on his shoulders. Falcio does seem to grow as a character and at the same time he doesn’t. I am just tired of his speeches, I was never a big fan of his romance and he is a good duelist so for once, just let him shut up and duel! It is like he is having his same thoughts and then Brasti or Kest snap at him and he realizes what they are saying is true and can’t argue with that. Kest was so passive in this entry and he felt like a shadow of the Kest that we know, specially that he was so central in the last book.
Also why do they insist that Aline is grown up and should act her age when she is only 14 -previously 13- and in this book she felt precocious to me.
“Why is life so much easier to live when people are trying to take it from you than when you’re forced to actually live it?”
I am afraid that there was a plot in this book but it was predictable and it did not move the bigger story forward. I once predicted the plot of one of the Spellslinger books in my pre-reading review and then I was a 100% spot on when I finished the book and this felt almost the same. I hope the final book ties everything up and is not another kind of a filler story.
The world-building is good and I enjoy the Saints and the Gods and I do hope it improves more in the finale.
Summary: In my review of the Knight’s Shadow, I mentioned that I was scared of repetitions which I unfortunately faced in this book. I do like the world and the banter, I feel the characters are lovable but there are details that irked me and I couldn’t ignore. As mentioned above, not a bad book by itself but from a third book in the series, I expected more!
July 19, 2018
Mini Review: Even though Saints Blood contained my least favorite story components of the series, I still was 100% totally on board with the writing and the characters. De Castell manages to strike a brilliant balance between making you cringe at truly awful events and making you laugh at the way the main characters think about and handle them. You know you shouldn’t be laughing because of what just happened, but the Greatcoats are just so damn funny you can’t help yourself. All I can say is, de Castell has completely won me over from the rough start in book 1, and I’m genuinely excited to finish the series out (and move on to Spellslinger).
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
May 2, 2017
April 2017 reread is done - LOVED IT! AGAIN!
Seriously people. Read it! The Greatcoats series is SUPERB!
Sebastien de Castell has proven himself to be one of the best new authors out there and if you have not yet read his books then you are missing out SO MUCH , there is not even a suitable scale I can use to indicate the level of mind-boggling, fantastical, escapist pleasure currently absent in your life.
Saints Blood drops you back into the story a few months after the second book’s dark events. The Greatcoats are still on a mission to get the queen in waiting crowned, but despite the agreement of the dukes to see her ascend the throne, they are trying their very best to prevent this. As if that problem is not enough of a challenge, churches are being desecrated, the order of Inquisitors have been reinstated (think crazy religious enforcers that hate Greatcoats) and all of a sudden Saints are being murdered, one by one. Good thing the Greatcoats are used to being the underdogs.
Knight's Shadow struck a much darker tone for the series, and whilst I still loved the second book, it really put Falcio through the wringer and I was starting to wonder how much more the poor guy could take. Luckily, Saints Blood definitely leans more towards the first book in tone, but with a helping of the second, thereby striking an excellent balance between the two.
The story’s pace is excellent and it does not relent until the final page, with barrels full of action including those magnificent sword fights that we have so become used to (the author's background in fight choreography really shows), and of course the trademark De Castell humor that has been so prevalent throughout this series.
I cannot wait to read the last book in the series, Tyrants Throne. If it reads anything like its predecessors then it should be a sublime finish to one of my favorite series.
Sebastien de Castell’s third book is pure bliss. Be sure to grab that must-buy author list of yours and give him his well-deserved spot on it.
Random thoughts: Spoilers abound.
PS: I leave you with a nice little nod to the Princess Bride, courtesy of Saints Blood.
PSS: The fact that I am mentioned in the Author's Lament as a member of the Bardatti has absolutely no influence on my rating :D But I am proud!
Another Greatcoats novel that delivers on all its promises. Saints Blood is a perfect example of fearless fantasy that is well written, funny and action-packed with diverse, real characters that you cannot help but love and hate and want more of.
Seriously people. Read it! The Greatcoats series is SUPERB!
Sebastien de Castell has proven himself to be one of the best new authors out there and if you have not yet read his books then you are missing out SO MUCH , there is not even a suitable scale I can use to indicate the level of mind-boggling, fantastical, escapist pleasure currently absent in your life.
Saints Blood drops you back into the story a few months after the second book’s dark events. The Greatcoats are still on a mission to get the queen in waiting crowned, but despite the agreement of the dukes to see her ascend the throne, they are trying their very best to prevent this. As if that problem is not enough of a challenge, churches are being desecrated, the order of Inquisitors have been reinstated (think crazy religious enforcers that hate Greatcoats) and all of a sudden Saints are being murdered, one by one. Good thing the Greatcoats are used to being the underdogs.
Unfortunately, most of these problems seem to be originating through the nefarious machinations of an as of yet unknown enemy, someone operating in the shadows and refusing to reveal themselves. Thus it is a bit of struggle for our swashbuckling group of heroes & heroines to make any headway in the good fight and they seem to be losing all the small battles. Kest and Brasti have their own particular brand of crisis that they need to deal with, Valiana has her hands full with protecting the realm, and the man with the plans, Falcio, has been through so much pain and despair that he is just not the man he used to be.
Knight's Shadow struck a much darker tone for the series, and whilst I still loved the second book, it really put Falcio through the wringer and I was starting to wonder how much more the poor guy could take. Luckily, Saints Blood definitely leans more towards the first book in tone, but with a helping of the second, thereby striking an excellent balance between the two.
The story’s pace is excellent and it does not relent until the final page, with barrels full of action including those magnificent sword fights that we have so become used to (the author's background in fight choreography really shows), and of course the trademark De Castell humor that has been so prevalent throughout this series.
I cannot wait to read the last book in the series, Tyrants Throne. If it reads anything like its predecessors then it should be a sublime finish to one of my favorite series.
Sebastien de Castell’s third book is pure bliss. Be sure to grab that must-buy author list of yours and give him his well-deserved spot on it.
Random thoughts: Spoilers abound.
PS: I leave you with a nice little nod to the Princess Bride, courtesy of Saints Blood.
PSS: The fact that I am mentioned in the Author's Lament as a member of the Bardatti has absolutely no influence on my rating :D But I am proud!
March 14, 2018
I will join the hoards of Fantasy fans who feel like they "discovered" Castell's wonderful fantasy. :)
Truly, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it and it flows so naturally and so entertainingly that I'm having a very hard time holding back from reading the next book.
Why? Because it has the flair and the panache of Alexandre Dumas, the hardcore Fantasy chops of the very best modern Fantasy, the verve and cheek of the best UF, and the heart and desperation of a truly good dystopian.
Gods and the Saints of Gods are the downtrodden characters in this novel. The rest of the benighted folk are commoners, idealists and oddly, the Dukes. The Dukes were the bad guys in the previous volumes. But not now. They're out of their league because a living god has arisen in the land and he's killing the living receptacles of the old gods of all manner of ideals.
Things really are desperate here. Only swashbucklers and religious knights with pistols can save the realm from the United faith that threatens to bowl over the Law of the land.
So cool. :) The worldbuilding is really fantastic, but it's the characters that shine so blindingly. :) Their dialogue comes in second. I'm in love with the characters. :)
Am I fanboy? You better f***ing believe it. :)
This is some of the smoothest Fantasy I've come across and it's more than entertaining... it made me cry. :)
Truly, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it and it flows so naturally and so entertainingly that I'm having a very hard time holding back from reading the next book.
Why? Because it has the flair and the panache of Alexandre Dumas, the hardcore Fantasy chops of the very best modern Fantasy, the verve and cheek of the best UF, and the heart and desperation of a truly good dystopian.
Gods and the Saints of Gods are the downtrodden characters in this novel. The rest of the benighted folk are commoners, idealists and oddly, the Dukes. The Dukes were the bad guys in the previous volumes. But not now. They're out of their league because a living god has arisen in the land and he's killing the living receptacles of the old gods of all manner of ideals.
Things really are desperate here. Only swashbucklers and religious knights with pistols can save the realm from the United faith that threatens to bowl over the Law of the land.
So cool. :) The worldbuilding is really fantastic, but it's the characters that shine so blindingly. :) Their dialogue comes in second. I'm in love with the characters. :)
Am I fanboy? You better f***ing believe it. :)
This is some of the smoothest Fantasy I've come across and it's more than entertaining... it made me cry. :)
Read
April 10, 2022It had been just over a month since I finished the previous book, Knight's Shadow, so I was happy to be back in the company of Falcio, Kest and Brasti, possibly the greatest trio ever! I thought that before reading Saint's Blood, and that opinion has only been made stronger after reading this third instalment.
As well as the bromance between Falcio, Kest and Brasti, which this series is very well known for, Saint's Blood does a wonderful job of adding a variety of the side characters to this dynamic, with some of the funniest scenes I have ever read being in this book, with the mix of characters and Sebastien de Castell's exploration of humour, especially during serious and severe moments, working wonderfully. It works to make the characters real, and often really adds emotion that also reveals the psychology of our characters, many of whom use humour as a defence mechanism when they believe they may die in the coming moments. Just sensational.
Saint's Blood picks up a while after the conclusion of Knight's Shadow, as another group of powerful enemies rear their head to threaten Falcio and those he cares about. The strength of the series is the characters, as well as the humour, and Sebastien de Castell really knows how to utilise those strengths.
Full Review to Come
As well as the bromance between Falcio, Kest and Brasti, which this series is very well known for, Saint's Blood does a wonderful job of adding a variety of the side characters to this dynamic, with some of the funniest scenes I have ever read being in this book, with the mix of characters and Sebastien de Castell's exploration of humour, especially during serious and severe moments, working wonderfully. It works to make the characters real, and often really adds emotion that also reveals the psychology of our characters, many of whom use humour as a defence mechanism when they believe they may die in the coming moments. Just sensational.
Saint's Blood picks up a while after the conclusion of Knight's Shadow, as another group of powerful enemies rear their head to threaten Falcio and those he cares about. The strength of the series is the characters, as well as the humour, and Sebastien de Castell really knows how to utilise those strengths.
Full Review to Come
May 24, 2017
The first hundred pages of this are pretty slow and I was afraid it was reverting to book one quality. It ended up being much closer to book two which I loved. I think the differential for me was in this book all of the laws of gods, saints, country and how they managed to bail out our protagonists at some dim moments became a little head scratching and eye rolling. Still overall a very entertaining book.
May 26, 2017
Buddy read with the best buddy reader, Luna!
I NEED MORE STARS FOR THIS BOOK! Real rating: 77544677577654316/5
Full disclosure: if you're looking for a level-headed, objective review of this book, you won't find that here. This will fully be me going full fan-boy mode. Enjoy the ravings of a lunatic.
This freaking book was more than I ever could've expected. And more than I knew I wanted. After so long spent in the dark, dark world of Malazan, this was definitely needed. This book has everything I love: humor, a bit of darkness to offset the humor, amazing characters, great world-building, character-development to rival almost anything, strong female characters that feel natural and real, and whitty banter.
De Castell shares a lot of similar qualities with one of my other favorite Fantasy writers, Michael J Sullivan. But he's also so uniquely gifted in so many other areas. They both have a style of writing that is very easy to read. They can both give you just enough details to make their world's vivid, but not so much that it feels like a chore to read. I also like how they write their characters.
Characters and their development can make or break a book, for me. Give me an ok story with some characters I can fall in love with and I'm ok. But Castell has given us such an amazing plot in this book while also managing to develop his characters far superiorly to his previous 2 books. I absolutely loved this 2 book, but this one destroys those 2, as far as the rise is quality goes.
Aline and Brasti were definitely the stars of this show. Aline has, by far, the most development. I won't say any more in regards to that, because spoilers. Brasti is the guy I wish I was and the friend I wish I could be. But he's also got enough faults that he feels real. Speaking of faults, we finally get to see Falcio as a real person. No more Mr. Perfect from him. He's more development in this book than the last 2 combined.
As far as the plot goes, this one was nigh perfect. It kept good pace, had plenty of conflict and resolution, and had tons of twists. Some you can plainly see coming, and others that are surprising. I fear to talk too much about the plot in case I accidentally spoil. But suffice to say I had an extremely tough time putting this one down. By far the fastest I've read a book with the time I had allowed to read it. Took about 10 hours, in all, to get through it.
All-in-all, I can't say enough great things about this novel. He had done such an amazing job with this book. Can't wait to get my hands on the conclusion when it released here in the US.
I NEED MORE STARS FOR THIS BOOK! Real rating: 77544677577654316/5
Full disclosure: if you're looking for a level-headed, objective review of this book, you won't find that here. This will fully be me going full fan-boy mode. Enjoy the ravings of a lunatic.
This freaking book was more than I ever could've expected. And more than I knew I wanted. After so long spent in the dark, dark world of Malazan, this was definitely needed. This book has everything I love: humor, a bit of darkness to offset the humor, amazing characters, great world-building, character-development to rival almost anything, strong female characters that feel natural and real, and whitty banter.
De Castell shares a lot of similar qualities with one of my other favorite Fantasy writers, Michael J Sullivan. But he's also so uniquely gifted in so many other areas. They both have a style of writing that is very easy to read. They can both give you just enough details to make their world's vivid, but not so much that it feels like a chore to read. I also like how they write their characters.
Characters and their development can make or break a book, for me. Give me an ok story with some characters I can fall in love with and I'm ok. But Castell has given us such an amazing plot in this book while also managing to develop his characters far superiorly to his previous 2 books. I absolutely loved this 2 book, but this one destroys those 2, as far as the rise is quality goes.
Aline and Brasti were definitely the stars of this show. Aline has, by far, the most development. I won't say any more in regards to that, because spoilers. Brasti is the guy I wish I was and the friend I wish I could be. But he's also got enough faults that he feels real. Speaking of faults, we finally get to see Falcio as a real person. No more Mr. Perfect from him. He's more development in this book than the last 2 combined.
As far as the plot goes, this one was nigh perfect. It kept good pace, had plenty of conflict and resolution, and had tons of twists. Some you can plainly see coming, and others that are surprising. I fear to talk too much about the plot in case I accidentally spoil. But suffice to say I had an extremely tough time putting this one down. By far the fastest I've read a book with the time I had allowed to read it. Took about 10 hours, in all, to get through it.
All-in-all, I can't say enough great things about this novel. He had done such an amazing job with this book. Can't wait to get my hands on the conclusion when it released here in the US.
December 10, 2016
ALIEN PORNSTARS WITH FOUR PENISES AND COUNTLESS VAGINAS, EVERYONE! Aye, that was just to get your attention.
De Castell's "Saint's Blood" is perfection. It really is. The thing about this Canadian's offerings is that, even though there's a storyline that leads the reader from one book to the next one, each of the installments has a proper ending, a satisfying climax, and you get all your answers. Also, you feel for the characters. You're there, sitting on your couch going through the pages, when shit monumentally hits the fan and you're like "Oh, no... poor bastard...", if you know what i mean. It's just like that.
I guess there's someone out there who, just like me, every now and then, clicks on the Word shortcut and tries to write its own novel. What happens next? You save your document littered with your poorly written prose, thinking "Alright, I'll continue tomorrow. A page a day, in a year I'll have my fucking masterpiece ready for publishing! Woot! Go me!"...until - just like me - you grab a book and get confronted by the sheer brilliance of a true professional. It's like when you pick up a guitar (or any other instrument) and you practice and practice, and then youtube puts you back in your place https://youtu.be/mweCZundWgA HA!
Oh, again, read the book to the very last page, Bonus Content, that is. I'm a bloke so I didn't cry, ok?
So anyway...
De Castell's "Saint's Blood" is perfection. It really is. The thing about this Canadian's offerings is that, even though there's a storyline that leads the reader from one book to the next one, each of the installments has a proper ending, a satisfying climax, and you get all your answers. Also, you feel for the characters. You're there, sitting on your couch going through the pages, when shit monumentally hits the fan and you're like "Oh, no... poor bastard...", if you know what i mean. It's just like that.
I guess there's someone out there who, just like me, every now and then, clicks on the Word shortcut and tries to write its own novel. What happens next? You save your document littered with your poorly written prose, thinking "Alright, I'll continue tomorrow. A page a day, in a year I'll have my fucking masterpiece ready for publishing! Woot! Go me!"...until - just like me - you grab a book and get confronted by the sheer brilliance of a true professional. It's like when you pick up a guitar (or any other instrument) and you practice and practice, and then youtube puts you back in your place https://youtu.be/mweCZundWgA HA!
Oh, again, read the book to the very last page, Bonus Content, that is. I'm a bloke so I didn't cry, ok?
So anyway...
July 21, 2017
Honestly was going to drop this series completely, but I've decided to move onto book four, though it might take me some time to get to it.
****
Honestly probably will give this 2.5 stars. I might write a review in a few days. This is one if the most over rated series I've ever read I think.
Like... I don't even know? It just was so lame? And it felt cheesy. And corny. And all of the things I don't want a book to be. And there are SO MANY flaws.
Ugh.
****
Honestly probably will give this 2.5 stars. I might write a review in a few days. This is one if the most over rated series I've ever read I think.
Like... I don't even know? It just was so lame? And it felt cheesy. And corny. And all of the things I don't want a book to be. And there are SO MANY flaws.
Ugh.
April 15, 2016
5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/04/15/...
Damn it, Sebastien de Castell, keep this up and you’ll end up giving all your readers heart attacks, because this book simply DOES NOT STOP. Practically every page is filled to the brim with swashbuckling action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and laugh-out-loud hijinks from our magnetic hero Falcio val Mond and his loyal band of companions. In other words, this was exactly the kind of sequel I wanted! Saint’s Blood pulls out all the stops in this newest installment of the Greatcoats series, bringing all our favorite characters back for another round of epic excitement and adventure.
Just when you think things can’t get any worse for Falcio, Kest, and Brasti, the situation in Tristia plunges further into disaster. The country was already on the verge of tearing itself apart, with its people close to revolt and the dukes still looking for ways to depose their young queen, and nothing the Greatcoats have been doing for the last six months seems to have made any difference. Now a new threat has emerged, and whoever their shadowy enemy is, they’re targeting the Saints of Tristia. To Falcio’s horror, the first victim they find is none other than Birgid the Saint of Mercy. Weakened and dying, all her powers seem to have been negated by a cruel iron mask locked around her face to prevent her from fighting back against her attackers.
On top of the murdered Saints, rumors are also spreading through the countryside that the Gods themselves are displeased with the way things are going in Tristia, further undermining Aline’s claim to the throne. Churches and religious sanctuaries are being desecrated everywhere and thousands of pilgrims are pouring into the capital campaigning for their faith, leading to the return of the Inquisitors, a holy order of warriors charged to enforce the Gods’ Laws. Unfortunately, the Greatcoats and the Inquisitors don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of matters. Whoever is orchestrating all these events—which are too well-timed to be coincidental—seems bent on bringing back the conditions to turn the country back into a theocracy, which would undo everything the late King Paelis had worked so hard to accomplish.
Well, you can bet Falcio’s not about to let that happen. And while his quest to bring the King’s Laws back to Tristia may seem more hopeless now than ever before, he’s got his old friends to count on to help him out, not to mention a new ally or two to keep things fresh (five words: I love you, Quentis Maren!) As always, I adore the usual suspects, starting with the down-to-earth Kest and the hilarious Brasti, Falcio’s two best friends. Our terrific trio maintains the heart of this series, fueling the novel’s energy and running jokes. Then there’s the fantastic cast of female characters. Though Aline, Valiana, and Darriana all have smaller roles in this book, Ethalia gets to step up and become a force to be reckoned with. I even enjoyed witnessing the transformation of those we used to think of as villains, such as the mercurial Duke Jillard.
As you can see, the characters in these books are always growing, their relationship dynamics constantly in flux. As a character-oriented reader, I can never get enough of seeing them adapt and form new bonds. Falcio is a man who draws people into his orbit and changes them without him or any of them even noticing it, but he also has a major blind spot when it comes to those closest to him. His powerful need to protect the important people in his life—especially the women, who most of the time don’t even want or require his stepping in—is something I find to be an ongoing conflict in spite of the other evolving aspects of his personality, and I hope it will resolve in time as he realizes that he need not save the world all by himself, and that his friends are definitely stronger than he thinks they are.
Story-wise, Saint’s Blood follows in much the same vein as the previous novel, but for me, there was a key difference. Looking back, I didn’t rate Knight’s Shadow as highly as the first book Traitor’s Blade because I felt the plot meandered somewhat, and perhaps didn’t flow as naturally as it could have. However, Saint’s Blood takes things back on track, hitting the ground running and never once does it stray from its course.
Moreover, the book is playing to its strengths, focusing on the type of in-your-face action and humor that first drew me to Traitor’s Blade. Granted, no one said that this series would be all sunshine and lollipops, and in fact, Falcio’s dogged tenacity in the face of dark times and overwhelming odds is what makes these novels so addictive and fun to read. But Knight’s Shadow took the darkness and hopelessness to extremes, with chapters devoted to scenes of torture and suffering, and I won’t deny that it put a major damper on things. It’s probably no surprise then, that what I appreciated most about Saint’s Blood is the fact it brings back the balance, presenting another nigh impossible challenge for the Greatcoats while still keeping the atmosphere lighthearted and adventurous. I laughed more than I did for either of the previous books, and all the funny moments and rousing fist-pumping scenes reminded me all over again why I fell in love with this series.
Needless to say, this was an incredible sequel on all levels, echoing the exciting fast-paced structure of Knight’s Shadow while bringing back the themes and vibes that made Traitor’s Blade so successful. Wildly entertaining and thoroughly intense, Saint’s Blood is the kind of book that makes you wish all epic heroic fantasy can be this awesome. This is the genre at its finest and Sebastien de Castell is to be congratulated for bringing us another fantastic installment to the Greatcoats saga. Honestly, I’m not sure how I will survive the wait for book four.
Damn it, Sebastien de Castell, keep this up and you’ll end up giving all your readers heart attacks, because this book simply DOES NOT STOP. Practically every page is filled to the brim with swashbuckling action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and laugh-out-loud hijinks from our magnetic hero Falcio val Mond and his loyal band of companions. In other words, this was exactly the kind of sequel I wanted! Saint’s Blood pulls out all the stops in this newest installment of the Greatcoats series, bringing all our favorite characters back for another round of epic excitement and adventure.
Just when you think things can’t get any worse for Falcio, Kest, and Brasti, the situation in Tristia plunges further into disaster. The country was already on the verge of tearing itself apart, with its people close to revolt and the dukes still looking for ways to depose their young queen, and nothing the Greatcoats have been doing for the last six months seems to have made any difference. Now a new threat has emerged, and whoever their shadowy enemy is, they’re targeting the Saints of Tristia. To Falcio’s horror, the first victim they find is none other than Birgid the Saint of Mercy. Weakened and dying, all her powers seem to have been negated by a cruel iron mask locked around her face to prevent her from fighting back against her attackers.
On top of the murdered Saints, rumors are also spreading through the countryside that the Gods themselves are displeased with the way things are going in Tristia, further undermining Aline’s claim to the throne. Churches and religious sanctuaries are being desecrated everywhere and thousands of pilgrims are pouring into the capital campaigning for their faith, leading to the return of the Inquisitors, a holy order of warriors charged to enforce the Gods’ Laws. Unfortunately, the Greatcoats and the Inquisitors don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of matters. Whoever is orchestrating all these events—which are too well-timed to be coincidental—seems bent on bringing back the conditions to turn the country back into a theocracy, which would undo everything the late King Paelis had worked so hard to accomplish.
Well, you can bet Falcio’s not about to let that happen. And while his quest to bring the King’s Laws back to Tristia may seem more hopeless now than ever before, he’s got his old friends to count on to help him out, not to mention a new ally or two to keep things fresh (five words: I love you, Quentis Maren!) As always, I adore the usual suspects, starting with the down-to-earth Kest and the hilarious Brasti, Falcio’s two best friends. Our terrific trio maintains the heart of this series, fueling the novel’s energy and running jokes. Then there’s the fantastic cast of female characters. Though Aline, Valiana, and Darriana all have smaller roles in this book, Ethalia gets to step up and become a force to be reckoned with. I even enjoyed witnessing the transformation of those we used to think of as villains, such as the mercurial Duke Jillard.
As you can see, the characters in these books are always growing, their relationship dynamics constantly in flux. As a character-oriented reader, I can never get enough of seeing them adapt and form new bonds. Falcio is a man who draws people into his orbit and changes them without him or any of them even noticing it, but he also has a major blind spot when it comes to those closest to him. His powerful need to protect the important people in his life—especially the women, who most of the time don’t even want or require his stepping in—is something I find to be an ongoing conflict in spite of the other evolving aspects of his personality, and I hope it will resolve in time as he realizes that he need not save the world all by himself, and that his friends are definitely stronger than he thinks they are.
Story-wise, Saint’s Blood follows in much the same vein as the previous novel, but for me, there was a key difference. Looking back, I didn’t rate Knight’s Shadow as highly as the first book Traitor’s Blade because I felt the plot meandered somewhat, and perhaps didn’t flow as naturally as it could have. However, Saint’s Blood takes things back on track, hitting the ground running and never once does it stray from its course.
Moreover, the book is playing to its strengths, focusing on the type of in-your-face action and humor that first drew me to Traitor’s Blade. Granted, no one said that this series would be all sunshine and lollipops, and in fact, Falcio’s dogged tenacity in the face of dark times and overwhelming odds is what makes these novels so addictive and fun to read. But Knight’s Shadow took the darkness and hopelessness to extremes, with chapters devoted to scenes of torture and suffering, and I won’t deny that it put a major damper on things. It’s probably no surprise then, that what I appreciated most about Saint’s Blood is the fact it brings back the balance, presenting another nigh impossible challenge for the Greatcoats while still keeping the atmosphere lighthearted and adventurous. I laughed more than I did for either of the previous books, and all the funny moments and rousing fist-pumping scenes reminded me all over again why I fell in love with this series.
Needless to say, this was an incredible sequel on all levels, echoing the exciting fast-paced structure of Knight’s Shadow while bringing back the themes and vibes that made Traitor’s Blade so successful. Wildly entertaining and thoroughly intense, Saint’s Blood is the kind of book that makes you wish all epic heroic fantasy can be this awesome. This is the genre at its finest and Sebastien de Castell is to be congratulated for bringing us another fantastic installment to the Greatcoats saga. Honestly, I’m not sure how I will survive the wait for book four.
February 18, 2019
[7/10]
Someone want to tell me what a 'Cogneri' is before I kill my first one?
Tristia is a land infested by secret societies, and it's up to our resilient three musketeers / Greatcoats to unmask yet another 'end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it' plot in this third installment of a great swashbuckling adventure.
After taking on the powerful Dukes and their armies in the first volume, and secret assassins/ninjas/spies in the second one, Falcio and his friends are confronted by a plague on the very Gods of Tristia. Somebody is murdering them, starting at the bottom of the food chain with the half-human, half-godly Saints, and working their way up to the big Six Uber Gods.
A 'Cogneri' is a sort of Inquisitor, another quasi-secret organization that comes into play and may be either enemies or allies for the Greatcoats. Or both. But they're not the only new players on the game board:
Did you know, it turns out there's a word for us? 'Inlaudati' : the Unrecognized. It's not an especially grand name, I grant you, but I suppose that's because our nature is to remain hidden.
By this third novel in the series, I've become more than a little blase about Falcio, Kest and Brasti overcoming impossible odds with bravado and snarky dialogue. The series is a great page-turner, but it is also becoming repetitive and, it turns out, easily forgettable. (I'm writing this scant review about half a year after I read the damn book).
Nevertheless, I look forward to another escape from reality with (thankfully) the last book of the Greatcoats adventure.
Someone want to tell me what a 'Cogneri' is before I kill my first one?
Tristia is a land infested by secret societies, and it's up to our resilient three musketeers / Greatcoats to unmask yet another 'end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it' plot in this third installment of a great swashbuckling adventure.
After taking on the powerful Dukes and their armies in the first volume, and secret assassins/ninjas/spies in the second one, Falcio and his friends are confronted by a plague on the very Gods of Tristia. Somebody is murdering them, starting at the bottom of the food chain with the half-human, half-godly Saints, and working their way up to the big Six Uber Gods.
A 'Cogneri' is a sort of Inquisitor, another quasi-secret organization that comes into play and may be either enemies or allies for the Greatcoats. Or both. But they're not the only new players on the game board:
Did you know, it turns out there's a word for us? 'Inlaudati' : the Unrecognized. It's not an especially grand name, I grant you, but I suppose that's because our nature is to remain hidden.
By this third novel in the series, I've become more than a little blase about Falcio, Kest and Brasti overcoming impossible odds with bravado and snarky dialogue. The series is a great page-turner, but it is also becoming repetitive and, it turns out, easily forgettable. (I'm writing this scant review about half a year after I read the damn book).
Nevertheless, I look forward to another escape from reality with (thankfully) the last book of the Greatcoats adventure.
May 19, 2016
Saint Forza who-strikes- a-blow! That was swashbuckling fantastic!
July 4, 2024
”But no man is all one thing; none of us are pure in our beliefs or our devotions. We are all bound by the frailties of our humanity, some of which feed our hatred, some of which, very occasionally, make us want to be something better.”
Saints Blood has the Greatcoats once again trying to save the city of Tristia— this time saints are turning up dead. they’re found with a strange mask over their face that causes the saints to go mad. Falcio, Kest and Brasti are doing their best to help Aline in her ascension to the throne but with the inquisition pushing back against her rule, this proves to be easier said than done.
“I walked over and hugged him, knowing it would only make things worse for him. I don’t get that many chances to torture Brasti.”
this book was a whole damn experience to read for real. soooo much happened within these pages that felt integral to the plot and placing these characters where they need to be in order to wrap it all up in the next book. these characters are just so special to me and everything Kest went through in this one felt like a personal attack. i love when enemies turn allies and that was a big focus in this book as well.. im scared for the finale now, my favs better make it through! 😩
Saints Blood has the Greatcoats once again trying to save the city of Tristia— this time saints are turning up dead. they’re found with a strange mask over their face that causes the saints to go mad. Falcio, Kest and Brasti are doing their best to help Aline in her ascension to the throne but with the inquisition pushing back against her rule, this proves to be easier said than done.
“I walked over and hugged him, knowing it would only make things worse for him. I don’t get that many chances to torture Brasti.”
this book was a whole damn experience to read for real. soooo much happened within these pages that felt integral to the plot and placing these characters where they need to be in order to wrap it all up in the next book. these characters are just so special to me and everything Kest went through in this one felt like a personal attack. i love when enemies turn allies and that was a big focus in this book as well.. im scared for the finale now, my favs better make it through! 😩
May 27, 2016
The Saint's of Tristia are turning up dead. They aren't simply being killed, they're being tortured, and placed in iron masks without eye holes. Falcio and the others have to figure out who's torturing and killing Saint's all while trying to work with the treacherous Dukes. On top of all that the church is amassing forces of their own and are attempting to vie for power over all of Tristia.
Saint's Blood is the excellent third installment to the Greatcoats series. The tension and drama the Greatcoats are facing trying to establish a throne for Aline while protecting Tristia is enormous. The enemies are far greater than any they've faced before. Their power was unbelievable and it seemed as though they'd easily extinguish all the Saint's along with the heir to the throne Aline. On many occasions throughout the book the situation appeared absolutely hopeless and it's shocking that the man of valor, Falcio val Mond, would continue to fight. The book was full of mystery as no one knew why the Saint's were being captured and killed or who was behind it.
I can't say enough good things about Saint's Blood. The camaraderie between Falcio, Kest, and Brasti was as strong as ever. They are like three brothers who talk, joke, bluff, and fight their way through the worst of scenarios. The infusion of additional Greatcoats was interesting as their names and relationships to the others are revealed. The Greatcoats are men and women who despite being asked the impossible by King Paelis, continue striving for a better tomorrow for Tristia.
Saint's Blood was really an enjoyable sequel full of hope and action.
4 out of 5 stars
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Saint's Blood is the excellent third installment to the Greatcoats series. The tension and drama the Greatcoats are facing trying to establish a throne for Aline while protecting Tristia is enormous. The enemies are far greater than any they've faced before. Their power was unbelievable and it seemed as though they'd easily extinguish all the Saint's along with the heir to the throne Aline. On many occasions throughout the book the situation appeared absolutely hopeless and it's shocking that the man of valor, Falcio val Mond, would continue to fight. The book was full of mystery as no one knew why the Saint's were being captured and killed or who was behind it.
I can't say enough good things about Saint's Blood. The camaraderie between Falcio, Kest, and Brasti was as strong as ever. They are like three brothers who talk, joke, bluff, and fight their way through the worst of scenarios. The infusion of additional Greatcoats was interesting as their names and relationships to the others are revealed. The Greatcoats are men and women who despite being asked the impossible by King Paelis, continue striving for a better tomorrow for Tristia.
Saint's Blood was really an enjoyable sequel full of hope and action.
4 out of 5 stars
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2016
Sebstien de Castell continues to impress with his Greatcoats series. I find myself extremely concerned for our protagonists and Tristia. I think the character development in this book was among the best (admittedly they are all good). But I particularly liked the introspection of Falcio and . I thought the premise of this one was fun to think about and that there were some devious components as well
There was a fight or two that I wasn't as invested in, but Sebastien de Castell continues to be among the best in class at writing fight scenes that develop either the plot or the characters or demonstrate some cool untapped capability. Kudos to him for that for sure!
There was a fight or two that I wasn't as invested in, but Sebastien de Castell continues to be among the best in class at writing fight scenes that develop either the plot or the characters or demonstrate some cool untapped capability. Kudos to him for that for sure!
Read
November 10, 2020Full Video Review Here: https://youtu.be/DD5ZfYU7-2E
For those who thought the series needed to take a new direction, you'll probably be happy with this one. Me, I was not asking for this and just wanted more fun adventures with my crew. But Castell takes this one in a more heavy direction by diving deeper into the Saints and Gods and takes his eye off the main narrative from the first two books. The action is still fantastic and the story is by no means bad, it just didn't land for me in the same way books 1 and 2 did. I still very much look forward to the conclusion in Tyrant's Throne.
For those who thought the series needed to take a new direction, you'll probably be happy with this one. Me, I was not asking for this and just wanted more fun adventures with my crew. But Castell takes this one in a more heavy direction by diving deeper into the Saints and Gods and takes his eye off the main narrative from the first two books. The action is still fantastic and the story is by no means bad, it just didn't land for me in the same way books 1 and 2 did. I still very much look forward to the conclusion in Tyrant's Throne.
July 1, 2017
I finished and I was not disappointed. I think this may be my favorite out of the three so far. This had a lot of tense moments and lots of surprises. There were some sad times as well and other times when certain pages gave me goosebumps. Humor and wit of course between Falcio, Kest and Brasti. I love all three of them, each individually for who they are. No questions were left unanswered. A great ending and I look forward to the conclusion in Tyrant's Throne.
I commend the author for each time a reveal or conclusion was drawn and I was like "huh?" and without fail the very next paragraph one of the characters actually asking the same thing as me (huh?), the author dummying it down for me with a clear explanation. Every time. I was never left wondering "what in Zaghev's balls was he trying to explain?"
By far however, the concept of this book is what made me love it so much. That these few people would go to such lengths to rid their country of all the evil that to this day is such a big part of our world. To fight for freedom and equality. To fight for injustice and banish torture, abuse, rape, bullying and so many other evils that are done...that is what makes me love this book and it's characters. I loved that they defeated fear with love. I loved the little glimpses and stories of valor and courage from even the small things like rescuing a cat from drowning in the canal because the cat was protecting a puppy. Or the man who was dying of thirst brought water by a young girl. Falcio wanted to just give up, to turn away and run and I wanted him to at times. But he didn't. And I'm glad he didn't.
This is the meat of this book and I wish we had more "Greatcoats" in our world today who would fight so valiantly for what is right and good.
Great read.
I commend the author for each time a reveal or conclusion was drawn and I was like "huh?" and without fail the very next paragraph one of the characters actually asking the same thing as me (huh?), the author dummying it down for me with a clear explanation. Every time. I was never left wondering "what in Zaghev's balls was he trying to explain?"
By far however, the concept of this book is what made me love it so much. That these few people would go to such lengths to rid their country of all the evil that to this day is such a big part of our world. To fight for freedom and equality. To fight for injustice and banish torture, abuse, rape, bullying and so many other evils that are done...that is what makes me love this book and it's characters. I loved that they defeated fear with love. I loved the little glimpses and stories of valor and courage from even the small things like rescuing a cat from drowning in the canal because the cat was protecting a puppy. Or the man who was dying of thirst brought water by a young girl. Falcio wanted to just give up, to turn away and run and I wanted him to at times. But he didn't. And I'm glad he didn't.
This is the meat of this book and I wish we had more "Greatcoats" in our world today who would fight so valiantly for what is right and good.
Great read.
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