I have to admit that I really liked the Disney version of “The Three Musketeers.” It’s not the book (obviously) and misses a lot of the nuance (duh!) but it had wit and sparkle and was eminently quotable (“You, boy, are arrogant, hot tempered and entirely too bold. I like that. Reminds me of me.”) and when I read the book, I appreciated the nuance but missed the interplay and silliness of the movie. Which is why I absolutely RIPPED through Traitor’s Blade.
Three members of the King’s Greatcoats (disbanded when the king was overthrown) wander the land to try to restore order from the various corrupt Dukes while clearing the name of their order. Does this sound familiar? Well then throw in a hint of magic, a lot of betrayal, political intrigue up the wazoo and all the spark and wit that I liked about that cheesy Disney flick. Kest, the master swordsman; Bresti, the bowman; Falcio, the damaged but well-intentioned leader and so help me I laughed! Even as Falcio described the first two days of being tortured as the first chance to rest in about a week, so he slept through it. If you’re looking for a genuinely fun and touching and exciting romp, look no further.
–-Chris Blakeley, Seattle, WA
Start swashbuckling with a copy of Traitor’s Blade from Chris’s local independent bookstore, Queen Anne Book Company, or other indies.