Traitor's Blade

An outstanding debut novel and a strong contender for Best Fantasy Debut of 2014. If Alexandre Dumas has a fantasy doppelganger, well, we've just found him in Sebastien de Castell. Traitor's Blade is one long love poem to The Three Musketeers and like it, packed with action -- a virtuoso of galloping adventure, intrigue, and thrill from start to finish; a blend of alternative history, sword swaggering heroes. This is low fantasy with plot and characters taking the forefront and worldbuilding shoved to the back, so don't expect a huge world that's fully fleshed out. No, this one is about the characters, the intrigue, and most of all, the powerfully detailed swashbuckling action scenes!If you are in the mood from some fast paced lighter fantasy, fantasy with some real swashbuckling heroes, lots of action, and detailed fight scenes, this is a book for you. Certainly fans of Dave Duncan's Sword series would love this. But it will appeal to anyone who wants a non-strop romp of action and intrigue, and a seriously likable hero (something missing these days in a genre mostly filled with grimdark releases). Traitor's Blade is the first in a series and signals some serious talent has arrived in the genre. The next book can only be even better. I look forward to what else this author can bring to the table in the future. But in the meantime, feast on this one.