Saint's Blood (The Greatcoats, 3)

Saint’s Blood was everything I could have asked for in a penultimate to a series and deserved to be awarded the full 5-stars for such an amazing reading experience. It made me laugh and it made me cry. It also made me curious, anxious, frustrated and finally it made my heart soar. When a book is able to make me feel so much, it is right and just for me to place it among my favourites. The pacing of the plot was, in my opinion, close to perfect with a slightly slower build-up at the beginning to lay the groundwork of the larger peril Tristia was facing aside from just petty, despicable Dukes. I realised that I love mystery elements even in fantasy as I was fascinated and pulled in by the gradual unravelling of the identity of the person and the reason behind the rampant killing of the Saints. Arising from this narrative, we learnt more about the Gods and Saints which we’ve so far only been able to appreciate in small doses; most intriguing being the purpose of Saints in a world that already has its Gods. "Truth is being buried under deception, faith drowned by fear." Faith has always been nebulous, inherently hard to break but also terribly easy to pervert. This is why religion has been consistently the predominant cause for conflict and war, and in these modern times, terrorism. Religious fanaticism and self-righteousness can literally destroy the concept of what is just, right and lawful. And that is the main theme underlying the story in Saint’s Blood. While there isn’t a single scene in here that can beat the Lament from Knight's Shadow in terms of grimness, I find that the overall theme around faith, fear and religion to be darker. For one thing, the formation of the zealots was positively sickening. I also find the action and fight scenes more brutal in this installment. While the story was engaging, what captivated me the most was the character development. I just cannot begin to describe how masterfully executed the development of the main and supporting characters was in this book; all the more impressive given that it was written in first person perspective of Falcio only. This was splendidly complemented with believable interaction between the characters and great dialogue. The growth in the female characters was equally fantastic, if not more, given that they were not the main characters and hence had less page-time. Valiana’s cunning, strength and courage continues to astound, but the most amazing change of all can be seen in young Aline who surprised everyone. Meanwhile, Ethalia progressed from being a side character to one of great importance in the larger scheme of things. One unexpected individual in particular, which elevated the characterisation in Saint’s Blood from great to masterful was that of a ‘villain’, one whom I used to view as despicable but has now risen in my esteem. "But no man is all one thing; none of us are pure in our beliefs or our devotions. We are all bound by the frailties of our humanity, some of which feed our hatred, some of which, very occasionally, make us want to be something better." The climax and denouement of the plot in Saint’s Blood was utterly satisfying, to say the least. I am ever enthralled by stories of the best of humanity in the face of the worst and this book delivered an abundance of amazing moments that were gloriously heartwarming. I will move onto the last book with both trepidation and anticipation, as this one will be quite hard to beat.

I'm enjoying this series more, the farther I read in it. Unlike book 1, this volume doesn't have many flashbacks (maybe none), and the narrative is smoother because of that. (Though there are a lot of times when Falcio hallucinates his dead wife or King Paelis...) I felt like there was a bit more banter among the three main characters than in book 2, although that's totally subjective (kind of depends on your sense of humor). I would say that if you liked the first two books, you will probably like this one as well. This book has a fair amount of world building (unusual for a third novel in a series), but the way it's done works for me because it's pretty well interwoven in the main plot. Someone is killing the Saints, who are living expressions of particular characteristics of humankind (e.g., mercy, romantic love, swordsmanship, etc.). Falcio, our POV character, and his friends Kest and Brasti are charged with figuring out who is doing it and with stopping it. Anyway, without being beaten over the head with needless explanation, we learn a lot more about the religion of Tristia, the country where Falcio and company live. I like the way it's done. When there are bits of explanation, they usually work because Falcio, Kest, and Brasti aren't very religious and there are things that maybe they should've known but didn't, as a result. It's an interesting take on religion that I won't spoil for you, but I like it precisely because it's a little off the beaten path (at least for fantasy novels). We have our usual cast of characters: the aforementioned trio, Aline (the king's heir), Valiana (who is removed from the action as she is acting as something of a regent for Aline), several of the other Greatcoats, several bards (aka Bardatti, since they are an old order with more powers than you might expect from a traveling musician), the Dukes, Ethalia, and Dariana. (Irritatingly, Dariana's name in this book seems to have added an extra "R" right in the middle. In book 4, it goes back to the original spelling. I don't know what's up with that. Poor editing, I suppose. I didn't really notice a ton of other errors.) There are some new characters as well. To talk about the main antagonist would be to give away too much of the plot. You meet a few priests and Inquisitors (church knights) and one of the church knights (Quentis Maren) is fairly well developed for a secondary character. I like how he is handled -- alliances are shaky with him because of deep suspicion between the Greatcoats and the Inquisitors, but it's not the traditional fantasy rivalry, and the book is stronger for it. Duke Jillard is also given a bit more depth here. It is hard to forget what he did in the first book (burning down Aline's family home and killing her relatives) but he is very nearly sympathetic by the end. One more thing I like: I always thought the relationship between Falcio and Ethalia moved too fast to be realistic, and the pace and character of it changes in this book (for the better). I am much happier with where it is at the end of this book than at pretty much any other part of the series. One thing I don't care for as much was how the storyline here seemed to divert from what had been the main plot of books 1 and 2. I know a key figure to the enemy's plot was defeated in book 2, but it wasn't clear to me then that her cause was completely over and done with. Anyway, I would like some resolution there (and maybe it will come in a future book?). Overall, though, this book was a quick read (finished it in a few days) and the reading experience was enjoyable. The action was described well and there was a lot of it -- enough that it kind of kept me from thinking too much about flaws in the book. This series is definitely growing on me. (And I feel like it is getting stronger with each successive book, which is something I can't say for a lot of series.)

Last year, KNIGHT'S SHADOW was hands-down the most enjoyable book I read all year. This year, SAINT'S BLOOD seems destined to take that title. Sebastien de Castell's Greatcoats series centers around three men -- Falcio, Kest and Brasti -- who were once the king's elite judicial swordsmen, bringing law and justice to a fragile kingdom. But their king is long dead and the Greatcoats have long since been scattered to the wind, each assigned a personal mission from the king. In the previous two books, Falcio and his friends have found the king's daughter, Aline, and taken steps toward placing her on the throne and returning justice to their kingdom. In addition to Aline, they have found several other young women who, while they each bring different personalities and skills to the table, match Falcio, Kest and Brasti in their determination and belief in a brighter future for their kingdom. By this point in the series, the women are often the drivers of the plot, standing side by side with the "Three Musketeers"-esque heroes we have followed throughout the series. All three books are anchored by Falcio's heart-on-his-sleeve point of view, providing a voice that reminds me in some ways of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden. In one moment, he can be trading barbs with Kest and Brasti, and in the same page de Castell turns the screws and suddenly creates an unexpectedly emotional moment. Somehow, de Castell has captured the humor of Scott Lynch and the poignancy of Robin Hobb. It's an awe-inspiring combination, and makes for an emotional roller coaster. de Castell's dialogue crackles throughout, from the familiar banter of Falcio, Kest and Brasti to the face-offs between the trio and their seemingly overpowering enemies. Each character has their own voice, from Kest's unerring pragmatism and calculation to Brasti's irreverance and refusal to take anything seriously. All three books have a touch of noir in them, especially SAINT'S BLOOD, as Falcio seeks to figure out who has begun killing saints and why they are doing it. Like the best noir heroes, Falcio spends almost the entire book injured in one form or another, never gaining enough time to fully recover before moving on to the next emergency, then next battle, the next crisis that could cost him everything he loves. The pace never slows down, as Falcio and his friends race from one crisis to the next, and every time Falcio seems like he's going to get a moment to catch his breath, the other shoe drops. These seemingly never-ending challenges have taken their toll on Falcio over the course of the series, making him an even more interesting character. In SAINT'S BLOOD, he still carries guilt after he was forced to cut off Kest's hand in KNIGHT'S SHADOW, but even that guilt is overshadowed by the emotional aftereffects of the torture he suffered in that same book. de Castell writes that fear in an incredibly visceral manner, making you feel Falcio's terror as he relives the worst moments of his life. While we never get their points of view, the other characters also grow and develop. We see Kest struggle to adapt to the loss of his hand, watch Aline and Valiana grow up in surprising ways, and even see Brasti change as he relies more and more upon humor to mask his genuine fear and concern for his friends. The doubt and pain and fear of all these characters make Falcio's determination all the more inspiring, and his victories -- however short-lived they may be -- all the more enjoyable.

*Original post on Goodreads and My Blog* EXCERPT My name is Falcio val Mond, First Cantor of the King's Greatcoats. Not long ago I was one of the finest swordsmen in the world. These days? Not so much. END EXCERPT I don't think the second and third book was as good as the first one but it was still freaking awesome. Aline manned up and showed everyone that's she's not just some little girl they are putting on the throne. Some crackpots are out killing the Saints which sucks of course. But isn't there always some crackpot. Peeps die and come back to life. It actually makes me scared for the last book with all of this dying and coming back to life but maybe it will sort itself out. I just love this series so much. I love Kest, Brasti and Falcio. I know I keep saying that in all of my reviews but it's true. I can't say it enough. They are just great characters who love each other and watch out for each other even if they do cuss each other from time to time. There seemed to be more fighting in this book. More people being stabbed and other sorts of things. People being taken over and made to wear these evil masks and attack others or just die. You can read all about that. Either way, it was another great book in the series and I'm off to the last book. And I'm scared =(

I LOVED the first two books in this series. Falcio, Kest, and Brasti are at the top of my list of all-time favorite characters (which is saying something), but I've struggled with how to rate this third book. Parts of it were as great as the first two books, which I'd give 10 stars here if I could. However, there is a significant part of this book that I really can't stand. Here are my brief thoughts, with only general spoilers: This book is darker than the first two books in tone. Considering the plot, this makes perfect sense. However, the author has an amazing talent for writing humor and friendly/affectionate banter between characters. This is still present but in less quantity than the first two books. Again, this only makes sense considering what's going on, but still I missed it tremendously because the author is so good at it. Characters- Kest and Brasti are great as always, and when the book focuses on them, they really shine. Seriously, they have some great moments. However, for a good half or more of the book, I feel like they were relegated to almost secondary characters, which is a shame because to me, you read these books for all three of these characters more so than anything else in the books. Speaking of secondary characters, I liked all of the Greatcoats, Quentin, and of course Aline. Jillard really emerges as a multi-faceted character in this book. Valiana, Aline, Darianna, Talia and even the Tailor are all interesting, well developed female characters. This brings me to the part of the book that I hated. I just cannot stand the character of Ephalia. If you like her character, then I think you will love this book as much or more than the first two books. If you agree with me though, you're in trouble. About 60% of this book puts the focus square on Falcio and Ephalia. To some extent, my problem with this is just a matter of preference- I look for certain things in certain books, and I don't read these books for romance (though I admit the little thing Brasti has going on is cute; Tommer as well). So right off the bat I was put off that the book was shaping up to be a romance novel above anything else. More than that though, almost the entire romance sees the characters self-sabotaging, moping, and whiny. Now, I concede that this is entirely realistic- I remember people in high school acting exactly like this, so there is a certain realism to the writing, I'll grant you. Falcio and especially Brasti (bless him) acknowledge these very issues I describe, so I have to assume that the author creates this kind of relationship intentionally as a way of showing his characters grow. The problem is that those people in high school were not fun to listen to, nor for me was it fun to read about with these two. It's hard for me to imagine how anyone could root for these two even if this WAS meant to be a romance novel. I felt like inserting a Needle into my own eyeballs more than once. When I tried to decide on a rating, the non-romantic parts I rate about as highly as the first two books, just fantastic. If I were to rate this book on the Falcio/Ephalia parts (which again is a significant part of this book), I'm not sure I could even give it one star. I compromised with four stars, which sounds like a pretty favorable compromise, but the thing is- the main characters and their interactions are just so great that it raises the rest of the book. The secondary characters (minus my obvious hatred of the one, ha) are excellent as well. Having finished the book, I am also hopeful that this romance stuff has now run its course and the fourth book will get back to what makes the series so great- a strong focus on the three main characters, a generous look at the secondary characters, themes of friendship, adventure, and enough humor to maintain hope during the hardships.

POTENTIAL SPOILERS: Saint’s Blood, the third book in The Greatcoats series, keeps the momentum going with the same fast-paced action, sharp dialogue, and high-stakes drama that fans expect. Falcio’s moral struggles, the relentless tension, and the intense swordplay remain front and center. One highlight is the recurring comparison Falcio and Kest make between their situation and various types of duelists, a clever and layered way to reflect on strategy, values, and survival. However, the book also continues a recurring issue in the series: dropped or forgotten characters. Trin, a major antagonist, vanishes from the narrative without resolution. And during the climax, the protagonists are left completely exposed while trying to resurrect Kest, yet somehow The Blacksmith and the “One True God” simply allow it to happen. It’s hard to ignore how the supposed threats seem to lose relevance at the worst possible time. Despite its flaws, Saint’s Blood still delivers a thrilling ride. It’s engaging, emotionally charged, and full of heart, but it would benefit from tighter handling of its characters and conflicts.

I really enjoyed these books and look forward to the 4th in the quad. Would've given a bit higher review if not for the many spelling mistakes, typos, printing problems. If I were de Castell I'd be furious that my book was delivered to the public in such poor shape. Where was the editor? Dariana's name changed in the 3rd book to Darriana. These problems distracted from the wonderful characters and the suspenseful story being told.

After enjoying Sebastien de Castell’s “Crucible of Chaos,” I revisited his “Greatcoats” series, continuing with “Saint’s Blood.” The book ties directly into “Crucible of Chaos” and is a standout in the series. It follows Falcio Val Mond, the First Cantor of the Greatcoats, in his quest to secure the throne for the late king’s daughter, Aline, with the help of his comrades Brasti and Kest. The plot thickens when Saints begin to be murdered, starting with the Saint of Mercy, and Falcio’s love, Ethalia, becomes the new target. De Castell’s European-style kingdom of Tristia, with its Musketeer-like Greatcoats and scheming lords, has become one of my favorite fantasy destinations. Also, the swashbuckling duels and intricate mysteries, coupled with de Castell’s penchant for putting his characters in unimaginably terrible situations from which there is no apparent escape, make for a truly unforgettable tale.