• Traitor's Blade

  • Greatcoats Series, Book 1
  • By: Sebastien de Castell
  • Narrated by: Joe Jameson
  • Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (2,000 ratings)

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Traitor's Blade

By: Sebastien de Castell
Narrated by: Joe Jameson
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Publisher's summary

With swashbuckling action that recalls Dumas's Three Musketeers, Sebastien de Castell has created a dynamic new fantasy series. In Traitor's Blade, a disgraced swordsman struggles to redeem himself by protecting a young girl caught in the web of a royal conspiracy.

The King is dead, the Greatcoats have been disbanded, and Falcio Val Mond and his fellow magistrates Kest and Brasti have been reduced to working as bodyguards for a nobleman who refuses to pay them. Things could be worse, of course. Their employer could be lying dead on the floor while they are forced to watch the killer plant evidence framing them for the murder. Oh wait, that's exactly what's happening.

Now a royal conspiracy is about to unfold in the most corrupt city in the world. A carefully orchestrated series of murders that began with the overthrow of an idealistic young king will end with the death of an orphaned girl and the ruin of everything that Falcio, Kest, and Brasti have fought for. But if the trio want to foil the conspiracy, save the girl, and reunite the Greatcoats, they'll have to do it with nothing but the tattered coats on their backs and the swords in their hands, because these days every noble is a tyrant, every knight is a thug, and the only thing you can really trust is a traitor's blade.

©2014 Sebastien de Castell (P)2017 Tantor

What listeners say about Traitor's Blade

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Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun Adventure Fantasy

There are certain things I like in a fantasy series. Good world building, fleshed out characters, plots and subplots, and an overall goal to the story. Traitor's Blade really doesn't have any of these things. The world is a vague European kings and queens type setting, the overall goal of the series is not really defined, and besides the main hero of the story, Falcio Val Mond, and perhaps his two best friends Kest and Brasti, the other characters in the book are pretty one dimensional.

Despite this, Traitor's Blade worked for me. Perhaps because of the other traits of second rate fantasy books not included. There is no poor child who awakens to a great magical power. No ridiculous evil force to recon with. No gathering of just the right tropes to set out upon a quest to find the magical relic that will save the world. No, Traitor's Blade is a pretty straight forward story about Falcio and his friends, former Greatcoats, the men founded to ride out into the country and distribute justice on behalf of the king. When the king is killed the greatcoats are disbanded leaving Falcio, Kest, and Brasti, without meaning to their world. The story follows the men on their journey to discover what comes next.

Traitor's Blade is not a deep fantasy book, nor is it a second rate clone. Traitor's Blade is a simple but fun story that is a good listen when you need something easier and just plain enjoyable. The story has humor and leads you on an adventure the likes of the Three Musketeers or similar stories. The narration from Joe Jameson was perfect for this story. I am looking forward to listening to the other books in the series.

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116 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The King!

The backstories were my favorite part, especially when they involved the king. He always exceeded my expectations of a character in his position/ role. I would love to read a whole novel about the back story, but I'm not sure if it would work.
besides that, the narrator was awesome and I think I would have regreted reading this book myself instead of listening to the audiobook. the characters came alive through the his voice.
I look forward to listening to the sequal.

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40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A true, refreshing delight in the fantasy genre

Looking for a break in the fantasy genre from heroes facing a mindless horde of demons or throng of orc type creatures? Want something with a brain. a heart, and brings the fun? This is the book for you.

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35 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Witty....

The banter between the three main characters is quite enjoyable.

The dialogue is what really makes the book.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Just no

This was so bad, I'm actually going to return it and get a refund on this.
Plot? Non existent. World building? Nope. Characters? Not one likable character.
Twists? None that you wouldn't spot miles away. Writing style? Ah.. should I even go on?

I HATED the main character so much, that I kept rooting for the "bad guys" (who were just as bland as the rest of the characters). I don't mind a character being completely selfish and self-centered, just so long he's not portrayed to actually be the opposite. We kept being told how wonderfully altruistic he is, how clever, how heroic. Ah.. great, but none of that was supported in the actual story or writing. What were his motivations? What did the other characters do to create such loyalty in him or vice versa? No idea. And it's not like the other characters could save this book. None of them had any kind of fleshed out character, genuine motivations or realistic behavior.

And I'm sorry, but the shallow way in which "bedding women" (author's phrase) and outright *raping* them were portrayed in this book was simply enraging.

Just no.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

good story but terribly written female characters

the story is good and the Male characters all have wonderful banter and dialogue. the ending was visible about 7 chapters from the end, but still entertaining.

now to get to the terribly written female characters and not entirely disguised sexism. none of the female characters are real people - instead of witty banter they whine and react to male characters most of the book. they are often the "pedestal" figures, filling the roles of villain, heroine, virgin or whore as the plot needs them to. the Tailor even acts as a sort of God figure. but as humans? not even represented a little bit.

it would behoove the author to figure out that women are not different in depth or quality of character than men, and strive to include one or two amongst his swath of intricate and flawed Male characters.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pure Joy...

Traitor's Blade is an amazing read. It has a fun story filled with great dialogue. I read it before the audio book and loved it so much that I just had to get the audio to go with it and relive the adventure.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great fantasy novel!

I've waited for this book to be released in audio form for the last few years. I bought it the day it was released and it did not disappoint. It was my favorite fantasy novel I have read or listened to this year. It's not a perfect book, but it is a good fantasy novel for anyone who likes the fantasy genre.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun story!

Great book. The story is quick, fun and has some twists. The twist aren't all that great and some of them are pretty easy to guess, but it doesn't really hurt the story. Narrator is fantastic!!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

ugh, almost worthwhile

I just finished this book. It was almost good. Almost. Just keep looking elsewhere. I am very disappointed.

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9 people found this helpful