Knight's Shadow (Greatcoats 2) by Sebastien de Castell

The Knights Shadow is a perfect book if you love engaging and hilarious characters, amazingly well sculpted fight scenes and that rush of excitement that only comes with being truly and utterly swept away by a writer of incredible talent. It is action, adventure, fantasy and mystery all at it’s finest and will chew you up and spit you out in that best possible way.

We pick up the plot almost directly after events of Traitor’s Blade and, like the first book, it has an incredible pace and is impossible to put down. More than once I found myself musing that there had not been a single slow moment or boring part where I felt I knew what was coming. As was hinted in the first book we get to know a lot more about the Tailor and her role in the world that is trying to stop itself being ripped apart, we delve deeper into the role of the Saints and the magic that lies within them and we get further clues as to the grand plan of the dead King. I loved the structure that gave us plenty of time with the Trio of Falcio, Kest and Brasti but also found time to explore the two most prominent ladies Dariana and Valiana. There are unexpected twists and turns taking place in all of their lives and watching the different ways each character approaches these hurdles is incredibly satisfying.

Castell plays with his characters like an evil but strategically gifted child, think Ender Wiggan gone Sith. He throws them in the darkest holes and makes them work their own way out and I was continually amazed and impressed with the complexity of what was unfolding in front of me as the plot developed with a stark brutality that was well matched by the moments of lightness and heroism. More often than not it is the ties of friendship that pulls them through the barest of margins and as always it is accompanied by dialogue that truly gives the impression these men have known each other and fought together for their entire lives.

“There was something else the three of us shared, too: a belief that there are some fights you don’t walk away from, no matter what the cost. That’s why I knew, at that moment when the Tailor offered us respite and resignation from our duty, that none of us would take it. We’d stood in that room and locked eyes and without having to speak it aloud, shared a single silent promise: if the world is going to fall apart, then we will go down with it. Fighting.”

Falcio, pronounced Fal-key-oh, is honour and valour personified and is as worthy a lead of a series as Logan Nine Fingers, Kaladin or Darrow. He’s the main focus of the plot and also the architect of much that befalls him, his crew and, as it turns out, much of the world around him. Kest was a big favourite of mine in this book. His skill in battle is only really matched by the battle waging within him as he is forced to constantly seek the strongest opponent, both due to his recent Sainthood and the way he sees the world around him though eyes that weigh every single possible option. Brasti is more emotionally weighted and is most often the one to speak his, and our, fears out loud. He brings both light and darkness to any situation and follows his own sense of right and wrong. Not being as beholden to the letter of the Law gives him more choices and makes him a bit more unpredictable that the other two. He’s often got the best lines and always seems eager to take the piss out of Falcio and Kest in way that shows his superiority.

“I was about to fall down on my bed when I realized Brasti had his hand up.

‘Do you have a question?’

‘No’, he said. ‘I just wanted to call first strike on Duke Isault.’

‘What do you mean?’ Kest asked.

“Well, when we show up in the throne room in the morning and Isault betrays us and Shuran and his knights surround us and Falcio is jumping up and down giving speeches about the Law and staying true to one’s word and the other rubbish he spews at times like there, I get to stab Isault first.’”

I have quickly become a big fan this Author and it was great to hear that Sebastian recently signed a nice big deal to bring out a new series of books with another publisher. I hope he can give the Greatcoat series with Joe Fletcher the time it deserves to finish with a bang, and with two books to go I hope they double in size with each release. I could not get enough and I'll be scouring the used book shops for the amazing hardbacks. They look like an amazing edition to any library and I have no doubt it will be a matter of time before they are even more sought after.

I leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Knight’s Shadow.

“I met a blind man years ago, selling fruit along the trade road, being led around by a very old woman whom I assumed was his wife. I’d asked him what it was like to be without sight. ‘Close your eyes’, he’d said. ‘Think of a beautiful woman. That’s what I see every minute of every day.’ His wife had looked over at him fondly. He’d told me the world could be the most lovely place you could imagine, so long as your imagination was fuelled by love.”

This review is dedicated to Vadren Graff, how did you know Sebastian?

Charlie Hopkins, A loyal Bardatti.

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