This book had a lot to live up to. One of last year's standout debuts, Traitors Blade was a fun action-packed thrill ride owing more than a little to Alexander Dumas and his Three Musketeers.
The sequel, much bigger in terms of both size and ambition, was very eagerly awaited.
And it did not disappoint. In terms of storyline, we meet up with our three heroes more or less where we left them. A new band of Greatcoats has risen to take on Trin, the ducal heir with designs on the throne. The story here is much more complex and ambitious than the first volume, with deep political intrigue played off against stunning action sequences, which make for a compelling tale.
The story is told from Falcio's perspective, but, like in the fist book, Brasti and Kest get enough time to develop further and allow us to see their motivations as well as Falcio's. We also see other characters points-of-view and, mainly through confrontations, get to see what makes them tick as well. It makes for a fully formed story, and is much better for having fully formed characters rather than mere caricatures.
Tristia is a fascinating setting, with a political landscape which feels very real. The dukes and the Knights make for unsettling antagonists, with a sense of evil surrounding their plans for the country. It is through this conflict de Castell shows us his world, and the various people who populate it, the villagers and the nobles alike.
With more sequels planned, Tristia will only grow, and hopefully we will see more of it.
Bigger and better than its predecessor, Knight's Shadow is a wonderful sequel, managing to keep the tone of the original intact while at the same time expanding the themes that made it so good. The Greatcoats series is thriving, and I look forward to the next instalment.
Knight's Shadow is published in the UK by JoFletcherBooks
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