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yrc's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fast paced swash-bucking which is what I needed at this time of year. Kest, Brasti and Falcio are a modern adaptation of the loved three musketeers, spreading the king's justice across the land. The three go through many a duel and ditch to save their necks and the simple people. Recommend it for readers who're looking for a fast paced, entertaining and funny book!
shion14's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
desolation73's review
4.0
Thought this book was fun actually. Id read another one. Would have read it quicker but started a new job.
tashasbookishcorner's review against another edition
3.25
This was a decent foundation for the world but I do think it could have been better in some areas.
The characters were the highlight of the book for me. Falcio was a well developed protagonist, a man who'd endured great amounts of hardship but still clung to his beliefs. Even when it got him in trouble. His temper and inflexibility definitely causes him some problems in this book and I liked that some of the obstacles he faced in the book were really kind of his own fault but you could understand why he clung so hard to the ideals of the Greatcoats and why he reacted the way he did. The rest of the Greatcoats were also great and I liked the banter between the main three. Valiana and Aline were both great characters, with 13 year old Aline probably having the most common sense of anyone in the book whilst still behaving the way you'd expect a child to. King Paelis kind of haunts the narrative, with flashbacks included, and you get the sense of how he influenced Falcio and how tragic his death was. That being said, why on earth did he not tell Falcio what the Charoites were? He must have known Falcio isn't always the quickest on the uptake. The Dukes were kind of over the top evil. I also don't understand the purpose of Ethalia's character.
The worldbuilding and plot were quite mixed imo. The first half was good for both and the lore around the Greatcoats was well established. However it changed around the half way mark. Magical elements were introduced to the plot with no real explanations of them. The plot got rushed after the Blood Week (basically the purge). The thing with Ethalia and the magic sex healing was just strange. It came out of nowhere and the consent was a bit dubious. I think it was supposed to be Falcio was initially reluctant to let go emotionally (because apparently magic sex can help with that. I guess that's therapists out of a job) rather than him not wanting to but it could have been clearer. The end was rushed, the whole Saints thing wasn't really explained and the fight was skipped over. The end also involved a somewhat unlikely, very convenient save. Also,where did the Valiana as Falcio's adopted daughter thing come from. They hadn't interacted that much and he didn't seem to like her particularly
Overall, the characters and themes were good but the worldbuilding and plot could have been better. I'm still planning on continuing the series.
The characters were the highlight of the book for me. Falcio was a well developed protagonist, a man who'd endured great amounts of hardship but still clung to his beliefs. Even when it got him in trouble. His temper and inflexibility definitely causes him some problems in this book and I liked that some of the obstacles he faced in the book were really kind of his own fault but you could understand why he clung so hard to the ideals of the Greatcoats and why he reacted the way he did. The rest of the Greatcoats were also great and I liked the banter between the main three. Valiana and Aline were both great characters, with 13 year old Aline probably having the most common sense of anyone in the book whilst still behaving the way you'd expect a child to. King Paelis kind of haunts the narrative, with flashbacks included, and you get the sense of how he influenced Falcio and how tragic his death was. That being said, why on earth did he not tell Falcio what the Charoites were? He must have known Falcio isn't always the quickest on the uptake. The Dukes were kind of over the top evil. I also don't understand the purpose of Ethalia's character.
The worldbuilding and plot were quite mixed imo. The first half was good for both and the lore around the Greatcoats was well established. However it changed around the half way mark. Magical elements were introduced to the plot with no real explanations of them. The plot got rushed after the Blood Week (basically the purge). The thing with Ethalia and the magic sex healing was just strange. It came out of nowhere and the consent was a bit dubious. I think it was supposed to be Falcio was initially reluctant to let go emotionally (because apparently magic sex can help with that. I guess that's therapists out of a job) rather than him not wanting to but it could have been clearer. The end was rushed, the whole Saints thing wasn't really explained and the fight was skipped over. The end also involved a somewhat unlikely, very convenient save. Also,
Overall, the characters and themes were good but the worldbuilding and plot could have been better. I'm still planning on continuing the series.
lindseyt92's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Love it so much!
canaanmerchant's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 really. Overall a good read with lots of action. The character of Falcio is a good one and so are his two main companions with lots of good banter. Falcio is also an excellent fighter and his many fights are clear and thrilling to read.
The world building was a little too rough though with a few info dumps and cliched sorts of villains and stakes. Part of that is from the first person narrative which is nice when Falcio is trying to tell us how he felt but less so when it's yet another break in the action to explain the origin of some plot point.
Better than just average so I don't feel like my time was wasted but the weaknesses are apparent.
The world building was a little too rough though with a few info dumps and cliched sorts of villains and stakes. Part of that is from the first person narrative which is nice when Falcio is trying to tell us how he felt but less so when it's yet another break in the action to explain the origin of some plot point.
Better than just average so I don't feel like my time was wasted but the weaknesses are apparent.
rwatkins's review
4.0
3.5/5 stars. Overall: 17.5/25
Traitor's Blade is a Renaissance adventure fantasy following a trio of lawmen turned mercenaries. The magic influences are on the lighter end, with duels and rapiers being more prevalent, and it's a trio, so there are some Three-Musketeers vibes, with a dab of The Purge. The story is non-linear and takes awhile before presenting itself, but the characters are fresh and fun to follow.
Characters: 4/5
Falcio, Kest and Brasti are the main characters, with the narrative following Falcio's pov.
Falcio is the leader of the Greatcoats, a King's Guard and Judiciary rolled into one, but they have been disbanded. He is now the depressed leader of this trio, with some heavy anger and guilt issues related to his king's fall. The king's dying wish was for Falcio to seek something, and so that's Falcio's underlying motivation. He ignores some troubling issues around him, but eventually he'll come around.
Kest is a master swordsman, best pal of Falcio since childhood, and fellow Greatcoat. He is the quiet, serious, wiser type pushing Falcio to be better.
Brasti is the humorous playboy, always cracking a joke or chasing a skirt. The groups master bowman and fellow Greatcloak, he's the chatty one, and often arguing with Falcio about the reality of their situation. He pushes to abandon the old laws and adapt to a world that hates them before they get themselves killed.
Side-characters are all enjoyable, with Feltock, Aline and the Tailor all having their interesting moments. Patriana is a bit of a mustache-twirling, evil for evil's sake villainess, but most other characters are better written.
Plot: 2.5/5
The plot meanders quite a bit. The early motivation is for Falcio to find the King's Charoites, but nobody knows what they are and Falcio spends no actual time looking for said McGuffin. Instead, the trio join a carriage protection detail heading north, until they reach a particularly evil duchy and Falcio separates from the others. He takes in a little girl there, being hunted sort of Purge-style.
Much of the middle of the book is spent trying to survive Purge Week in defiance of the Duke.
The ending is a clustered mess, with deus ex machina, a sudden boost in magical elements, and some threads coming together in a clunky way.
There is a heavy dose of secret-keeping and vague word-use (Charoites) to mislead or withhold information until later revelations or twists. There is erasure of memories to hide later plot/character reveals and twists. These are typically both annoying plot devices, and none of it was handled well here.
Setting: 3/5
A dark world is established, but not explained very well. Everyone hates the Greatcoats but it's never sufficiently explained why. The people didn't have any love for their King, or the Dukes that the Greatcoats fight against, so there is a missing puzzle piece for why all of the peasantry holds such disdain and disgust for them.
The magical and mystical elements are downplayed for most of the book, but at the end there is a huge spike in their presence. There's a wonderful magical beast introduced in the middle, and a blood-tracker, but these are relatively minor and established as rare things. But then, at the very end, there are suddenly Saint-Gods walking the earth, Healing Vaginas and Reviving rituals. Yes, you read that right! And while I have no qualms with exploring the healing powers of sex, these things all come out of nowhere. We were fencing for most of the book and nobody seemed aware these powers existed in this world until the moment they were needed.
The world itself is pretty bland until the end, with a few united duchies, all with evil mustache-twirling Dukes as leaders. The power level is ramped up so much at the end though, that the worldbuilding previous feels false.
Style: 3.5/5
The writing itself was okay. Not very descriptive, somewhat repetitive, but it mostly moved the plot along.
The pacing was quick, which I like.
There are frequent flashbacks, every other chapter for much of the book, which I didn't feel added much to the story. I rarely enjoy a nonlinear narrative, with the constant jumping back-and-forth. I prefer backstory in small summary form and left in the background, not as a driving force interrupting the flow of the story being told.
I loved the swashbuckling, the combat scenes displayed, and the touches of humor to balance out the darker setting. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and my enjoyment counts for a lot.
The tone was fun and adventurous, being lighthearted while dealing with heavy themes. The heart of this book was solid, and until the power spike near the end, I was on board for the thrills.
Themes: 4.5/5
Justice, the corruptive nature of power, selfishness, depression, guilt, shame, respect and honor are all underlying themes throughout the book.
Found family, although a dysfunctional one, is at the heart of the story. Trust in one another, challenging trust when a friend is making bad decisions, and how that can test the limits of a friendship is explored pretty well through Kest and Brasti. On Falcio's end, the difficulties of leadership, especially when disheartened with the world around you and your place in it, is key to his character and story.
Human nature, what is freedom and what does it mean to live free is delved into.
Choices are a huge theme played with from multiple angles, including having the freedom to make bad choices, or how guilt and grief can cause bad choices.
There are a lot themes, developed at different levels and with varying degrees of success, but well worth reading for.
Traitor's Blade is a Renaissance adventure fantasy following a trio of lawmen turned mercenaries. The magic influences are on the lighter end, with duels and rapiers being more prevalent, and it's a trio, so there are some Three-Musketeers vibes, with a dab of The Purge. The story is non-linear and takes awhile before presenting itself, but the characters are fresh and fun to follow.
Characters: 4/5
Falcio, Kest and Brasti are the main characters, with the narrative following Falcio's pov.
Falcio is the leader of the Greatcoats, a King's Guard and Judiciary rolled into one, but they have been disbanded. He is now the depressed leader of this trio, with some heavy anger and guilt issues related to his king's fall. The king's dying wish was for Falcio to seek something, and so that's Falcio's underlying motivation. He ignores some troubling issues around him, but eventually he'll come around.
Kest is a master swordsman, best pal of Falcio since childhood, and fellow Greatcoat. He is the quiet, serious, wiser type pushing Falcio to be better.
Brasti is the humorous playboy, always cracking a joke or chasing a skirt. The groups master bowman and fellow Greatcloak, he's the chatty one, and often arguing with Falcio about the reality of their situation. He pushes to abandon the old laws and adapt to a world that hates them before they get themselves killed.
Side-characters are all enjoyable, with Feltock, Aline and the Tailor all having their interesting moments. Patriana is a bit of a mustache-twirling, evil for evil's sake villainess, but most other characters are better written.
Plot: 2.5/5
The plot meanders quite a bit. The early motivation is for Falcio to find the King's Charoites, but nobody knows what they are and Falcio spends no actual time looking for said McGuffin. Instead, the trio join a carriage protection detail heading north, until they reach a particularly evil duchy and Falcio separates from the others. He takes in a little girl there, being hunted sort of Purge-style.
Much of the middle of the book is spent trying to survive Purge Week in defiance of the Duke.
The ending is a clustered mess, with deus ex machina, a sudden boost in magical elements, and some threads coming together in a clunky way.
There is a heavy dose of secret-keeping and vague word-use (Charoites) to mislead or withhold information until later revelations or twists. There is erasure of memories to hide later plot/character reveals and twists. These are typically both annoying plot devices, and none of it was handled well here.
Setting: 3/5
A dark world is established, but not explained very well. Everyone hates the Greatcoats but it's never sufficiently explained why. The people didn't have any love for their King, or the Dukes that the Greatcoats fight against, so there is a missing puzzle piece for why all of the peasantry holds such disdain and disgust for them.
The magical and mystical elements are downplayed for most of the book, but at the end there is a huge spike in their presence. There's a wonderful magical beast introduced in the middle, and a blood-tracker, but these are relatively minor and established as rare things. But then, at the very end, there are suddenly Saint-Gods walking the earth, Healing Vaginas and Reviving rituals. Yes, you read that right! And while I have no qualms with exploring the healing powers of sex, these things all come out of nowhere. We were fencing for most of the book and nobody seemed aware these powers existed in this world until the moment they were needed.
The world itself is pretty bland until the end, with a few united duchies, all with evil mustache-twirling Dukes as leaders. The power level is ramped up so much at the end though, that the worldbuilding previous feels false.
Style: 3.5/5
The writing itself was okay. Not very descriptive, somewhat repetitive, but it mostly moved the plot along.
The pacing was quick, which I like.
There are frequent flashbacks, every other chapter for much of the book, which I didn't feel added much to the story. I rarely enjoy a nonlinear narrative, with the constant jumping back-and-forth. I prefer backstory in small summary form and left in the background, not as a driving force interrupting the flow of the story being told.
I loved the swashbuckling, the combat scenes displayed, and the touches of humor to balance out the darker setting. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and my enjoyment counts for a lot.
The tone was fun and adventurous, being lighthearted while dealing with heavy themes. The heart of this book was solid, and until the power spike near the end, I was on board for the thrills.
Themes: 4.5/5
Justice, the corruptive nature of power, selfishness, depression, guilt, shame, respect and honor are all underlying themes throughout the book.
Found family, although a dysfunctional one, is at the heart of the story. Trust in one another, challenging trust when a friend is making bad decisions, and how that can test the limits of a friendship is explored pretty well through Kest and Brasti. On Falcio's end, the difficulties of leadership, especially when disheartened with the world around you and your place in it, is key to his character and story.
Human nature, what is freedom and what does it mean to live free is delved into.
Choices are a huge theme played with from multiple angles, including having the freedom to make bad choices, or how guilt and grief can cause bad choices.
There are a lot themes, developed at different levels and with varying degrees of success, but well worth reading for.
_samshine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75