Quillifer the Knight

Quillifer, Book 2

By: Walter Jon Williams

Narrated by: Ralph Lister

Length: 18 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Williams knows exactly what to do with Quillifer, and it's hugely entertaining." (Locus)

"Walter Jon Williams is always fun, but this may be his best yet, a delight from start to finish, witty, colorful, exciting and amusing by turns, exquisitely written." (George R. R. Martin)

"Chock full of derring-do, blood and thunder, swashbuckling, and other good stuff evocative of Rafael Sabatini, Sir Walter Scott, and the penny-bloods." (Paul Di Filippo, author of The Big Get-Even)

Quillifer - now a member of the nobility - finds himself further immersed in court politics as the outcast princess Floria is suddenly in a position of power with a rebellion stoked by a certain brilliant tactician, in this thrilling sequel to Quillifer.

Rogue. Joker. Lover. Reluctant conspirator.

The ambitious young Quillifer was been knighted for services to the crown, but was then banished from court by a queen who finds him obnoxious. Now, after a two-year voyage to improve his fortunes, Quillifer returns to court and is plunged immediately into a maelstrom of intrigue that triggers duels, plots, amours, and rollicking adventure. Bounding back and forth from the high councils of state to the warm bed of his mistress, Quillifer must exert every ounce of seductive charm and low cunning in order to survive.

Queen Berlauda’s foreign husband brings war in his wake, along with a clutch of officials who enforce the royal will with violence, torture, and judicial murder. A dragon menaces the realm, and political conspiracy threatens the life of Quillifer’s young patroness, Princess Floria. It’s the traditional job of a knight to fight dragons and rescue princesses, but Quillifer is hardly a traditional knight, and he brings to the job an array of unorthodox skills that dazzles his swarm of rivals, seduces their wives, and threatens the realm.

But there’s a greater menace to Quillifer than deadly political intrigue, for once again he finds himself hunted by the cruel, beautiful, and vengeful goddess Orlanda.

©2019 Walter Jon Williams (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

WJW does it again

I’ve read nearly everything this author has published, and am continually amazed at his inventiveness and skill. This is a great story, presented in prose that accentuates the narrative. Sailing, ink making, swordplay, clothing, dining and travel across the countryside are all described in vivid, minute detail that gives the reader a sense of what it was like to live in the 17th century.

Can’t rave enough.

Lots of fun!

Quillifer fights a dragon, rescues a princess, and invents ink. What more could you ask for?

Our Hero and the Goddess l

I enjoyed listening this book by Walter Jon Williams. Once I became used to the narrator speaking in the language of true English, it was exciting to listen. The book is interesting and pleasure to listen to. The Narrator is gifted with his talent and held my interest from cover to cover.

Worst choice of narrator

I loved the first Quillifer novel and thought an audio would be a great way to follow up on the sequel. Wrong. The narrator couldn't be worse for this novel. I'm sure there are many selections where he's a fine choice, but his voice is completely wrong for the smooth, whimsical, Errol-Flynn-type narrator you expect with Quillifer. I don't know how old the narrator is but he sounds like he's in his 70s.