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. Things could be worse. Their employer could be lying dead on the floor while the killer plants 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.

Sebastien de Castell's profile page

Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in Archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, actor, and product strategist.  His only defense against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely enjoys variety and that each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way. He lives in Vancouver, where he is Director of Strategic Program Development at Vancouver Film School.

“An all-round brilliant fantasy debut, and one of the best I’ve read in a decade.” - Civilian Reader.blogspot.co.uk

“I loved loved loved Traitor's Blade. I would recommend it to everyone, and I think fencing and sword fighting types will especially get a kick out of it. Seriously, this is one excellent and remarkably entertaining book! Read it.” - The BiblioSanctum

“Termed to be “The Three Musketers meets Game of Thrones”, Traitor’s Blade is definitely the most delightful fun I’ve had in epic fantasy reads and marks the perfect start to a rib-tickling swashbuckling adventure series that would be high up on anyone’s list of 2014 Fantasy books.” - Sachin Dev, Smorgasbord Fantasia

“De Castell has produced a wonderfully inventive, thoroughly entertaining story and a fascinating world in which to set it. And I, for one, am excited to hear how Falcio will proceed in the remaining three volumes of the series!” - nerds-feather.com

“The author served a master class in sword fighting skills like no other author I have read before. I came away from this book believing that I am now an expert swordsman!” - newsignedbooks.com

“Sebastien de Castell is a brilliant story teller. This book reminded me of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie; high praise you may think but once you read this book, you will agree with me. I have no fear in giving this my highest marks.” - newsignedbooks.com

"This is one hell of a good book. So many fantasies concentrate on the darkness in humanity these days. There's something to be said for that, if it's well done. Yet this is a book that reminds you that deep down, we want to have courage and honour - and we admire those who do. Hugely enjoyable throughout. 5 stars - well deserved." - Conn Iggulden, author of The Dangerous Book for Boys
"This debut is a triumph of character, with every protagonist a fascination, especially Falcio, a tormented and ridiculously honorable man. Humor abounds, mostly in the sparkling dialog among our Three Musketeers-esque band of brothers, in this swashbuckling series launch that shows huge potential." - Library Journal, starred review
“Traitor’s Blade never falters, with writing as smooth and decisive as a rapier’s swish through the air and a story as passionate as life itself. I can’t wait to read more about these wonderful characters. Highly recommended!” - Julie E. Czerneda, author of A Turn of Light
“In Traitor's Blade, Sebastien de Castell combines the best of Joe Abercrombie and Alexandre Dumas. He can break your heart and spike your adrenaline with the same sentence. Riveting.” - Violette Malan, author of Path of the Sun and The Storm Witch
“Some books you can't put down. This one won't even let you try; it whirls you along in a wild dance of fights, treachery, and jaw-dropping surprises. If you thought that Alexandre Dumas put his three Musketeers through a lot of trouble, just wait until you see what Mr. de Castell dumps on his three Greatcoats. His fight scenes are amazingly detailed and yet they never lose pace. Sebastien de Castell is a newcomer to the genre, and will be a very popular one if he can continue to produce books of this quality.” - Dave Duncan, author of King of Swords