Petros Triantafyllou's Reviews > Traitor's Blade

Traitor's Blade is a fascinating story with witty, humorous and sentimental elements. De Castell's imaginative language, in combination with the extremely fast pacing and unexpected circumstances, provides the story with a cinematic vignette, making the book stand out in the genre.

The characters seemed really flat at first, but as you get to know them better, you get attached really fast, understanding their emotions, supporting their actions, and rooting for their achievements. The world building is simple and the magic is subtle, playing a vital role but not getting in the way of the story. I also loved the seemingly random circumstances, creating unexpected smaller arcs, keeping the fast pacing, and providing momentum for the finale.

“That's what being free means - not the right to do whatever you want, but the right to take a stand and say what you'll die for.”

Of course, there were some negative elements as well. At some points, the story reminded me more of a fairy tale than fantasy (Princess for rescue, Wicked step mother, magical horses etc). Also, all of the secondary characters that were mentioned in the past sequences, suddenly and miraculously appeared on the path of our heroes. Finally, the only thing I was looking forward to, a duel between the supposedly two best swordsmen of the world, I didn't get to see, but only to learn the outcome. These are obviously just minor problems, but still, they affect the whole thing.

All in all, I found the Traitor's Blade a fascinating read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys high fantasy with a lighter scheme.

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