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Court of Shadows #0.5
Crucible of Chaos
A mortally wounded magistrate faces his deadliest trial inside an ancient abbey where the monks are going mad and the gods themselves may be to blame!Estevar Borros, one of the legendary sword-fighting magistrates known as the Greatcoats and the king's personal investigator of the supernatural, is no stranger to tales of ghosts and demons. When the fractious monks of the abbey rumoured to be the birthplace of the gods begin warring over claims of a new pantheon arising, the frantic abbot summons him to settle the dispute.But Estevar has his own a near-fatal sword wound from his last judicial duel, a sworn knight who claims he has proof the monks are consorting with demons, a diabolical inquisitor with no love for the Greatcoats, and a mysterious young woman claiming to be Estevar's ally but who may well be his deadliest enemy.Armed only with his famed investigative talents, his faltering skill with a blade and Imperious, his ornery mule, Estevar must root out the source of the madness lurking inside the once-sacred walls of Isola Sombra before its chaos spreads to the country he's sworn to protect.Investigate alongside Estevar and the most heroic mule ever to appear in print in this thrilling swashbuckling fantasy mystery by Sebastien de Castell, author of the Internationally acclaimed Greatcoats and Spellslinger series!
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2023
106 people are currently reading
2086 people want to read
About the author
Sebastien de Castell
58 books4,979 followersHi Folks!
My eighteenth novel, MALEVOLENT EIGHT is now available. Cade Ombra and his misfit band of mercenary war mages are determined to prevent a cataclysmic war between supernatural beings. But peace at any price might mean killing an awful lot of people. The Malevolent Seven might be heroes, but they'll be the good guys . . .
My seventeenth novel is titled PLAY OF SHADOWS. A swashbuckling fantasy set in the world of mystical theatre where exalted actors can channel the spirits of the historical figures they portray on stage. But Damelas Chademantaigne seems to be summoning the spirit of a notorious villain whose secrets could unleash a civil war!
My sixteenth novel is CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!
My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!
You can get a pair of free stories here.
The best way to stay up to date is at www.decastell.com, but I'm also on that Facebook thing. Also that Twitter thing. One day I'll even remember to get on that Instagram thing.
As to who I am? Well . . .
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, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, 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.
Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com
My eighteenth novel, MALEVOLENT EIGHT is now available. Cade Ombra and his misfit band of mercenary war mages are determined to prevent a cataclysmic war between supernatural beings. But peace at any price might mean killing an awful lot of people. The Malevolent Seven might be heroes, but they'll be the good guys . . .
My seventeenth novel is titled PLAY OF SHADOWS. A swashbuckling fantasy set in the world of mystical theatre where exalted actors can channel the spirits of the historical figures they portray on stage. But Damelas Chademantaigne seems to be summoning the spirit of a notorious villain whose secrets could unleash a civil war!
My sixteenth novel is CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!
My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!
You can get a pair of free stories here.
The best way to stay up to date is at www.decastell.com, but I'm also on that Facebook thing. Also that Twitter thing. One day I'll even remember to get on that Instagram thing.
As to who I am? Well . . .
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, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, 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.
Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
February 13, 2024
My brother and I now have a booktube called The Brothers Gwynne. Check it out! The Brothers Gwynne
A triumphant return to the world of the beloved Greatcoats, this time in the very capable and clever Estevar!
I know guys, I know, I hear you! We all miss Brasti. We all miss Kest. Some of us even miss Falcio at times, but Estevar is worthy of taking the torch from those three best-friends and alongside his Greatmule, we are swept along a marvellously exciting and mysterious story that has every staple of Sebastien's writing that we have come to expect and love.
The dialogue is sharper than a rapier, the wit is sharper yet. There is murder and plotting, there is found family and there are more twists than that maze in Harry Potter. So. Much. Fun!
A triumphant return to the world of the beloved Greatcoats, this time in the very capable and clever Estevar!
I know guys, I know, I hear you! We all miss Brasti. We all miss Kest. Some of us even miss Falcio at times, but Estevar is worthy of taking the torch from those three best-friends and alongside his Greatmule, we are swept along a marvellously exciting and mysterious story that has every staple of Sebastien's writing that we have come to expect and love.
The dialogue is sharper than a rapier, the wit is sharper yet. There is murder and plotting, there is found family and there are more twists than that maze in Harry Potter. So. Much. Fun!
May 11, 2024
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Sebastien de Castell does it again!
I think this is the 11th book I have read by Sebastien de Castell, so it is the 11th time he has delivered a riveting, engaging, witty read with sharp characters and a plot full of surprises and revelations.
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Sebastien de Castell does it again!
I think this is the 11th book I have read by Sebastien de Castell, so it is the 11th time he has delivered a riveting, engaging, witty read with sharp characters and a plot full of surprises and revelations.
January 27, 2024
Once again, I am a DeCastell stan!
So fun to be back with the Greatcoats again! While Estevar is not Falcio, he still endeared himself to me enough to keep me alone for the ride. The swell of speechifying, the waxing on justice, the swashbuckling action, mixed with supernatural horror and the Greatmule Imperious! Plus, I love me some fantasy mysteries. So much fun to read.
Full review to come!
So fun to be back with the Greatcoats again! While Estevar is not Falcio, he still endeared himself to me enough to keep me alone for the ride. The swell of speechifying, the waxing on justice, the swashbuckling action, mixed with supernatural horror and the Greatmule Imperious! Plus, I love me some fantasy mysteries. So much fun to read.
Full review to come!
June 21, 2024
Crucible of Chaos ★★★
I was very excited to go back to the Greatcoats world since it featured some of my favorite characters. This is set in the same world but is not directly related to the previous events. I think in terms of quality, this is sadly a downgrade.
I generally enjoy De Castell's writing style and humor, but something felt off with the prose in this book. The writing seemed overly embellished, with an abundance of complex words that sometimes felt forced. This was particularly noticeable in the beginning, though I found it improved as I progressed beyond the first 30%.
Estevar, the protagonist, left me with mixed feelings. While he's an okay character, he isn't particularly memorable. I had hoped to discover new characters to love, akin to Brasti from the Greatcoats series, but Estevar felt rather plain. De Castell's attempt to create a different kind of hero didn't quite resonate with me; instead of standing out, Estevar seemed unremarkable. The secondary characters didn't fare much better in leaving an impression.
The plot and the mystery elements were engaging enough to keep me reading through to the end. However, when compared to the original series, this book felt lacking and somewhat average. The action and battles, which were more subdued compared to its predecessors, also contributed to this feeling.
Upon finishing the book, I was inclined to skip the rest of the series, but a friend assured me that "Play of Shadows" was better, which gave me hope for the series' redemption. I'm optimistic that it will restore my faith in the Greatcoats world once more.
I was very excited to go back to the Greatcoats world since it featured some of my favorite characters. This is set in the same world but is not directly related to the previous events. I think in terms of quality, this is sadly a downgrade.
I generally enjoy De Castell's writing style and humor, but something felt off with the prose in this book. The writing seemed overly embellished, with an abundance of complex words that sometimes felt forced. This was particularly noticeable in the beginning, though I found it improved as I progressed beyond the first 30%.
Estevar, the protagonist, left me with mixed feelings. While he's an okay character, he isn't particularly memorable. I had hoped to discover new characters to love, akin to Brasti from the Greatcoats series, but Estevar felt rather plain. De Castell's attempt to create a different kind of hero didn't quite resonate with me; instead of standing out, Estevar seemed unremarkable. The secondary characters didn't fare much better in leaving an impression.
The plot and the mystery elements were engaging enough to keep me reading through to the end. However, when compared to the original series, this book felt lacking and somewhat average. The action and battles, which were more subdued compared to its predecessors, also contributed to this feeling.
Upon finishing the book, I was inclined to skip the rest of the series, but a friend assured me that "Play of Shadows" was better, which gave me hope for the series' redemption. I'm optimistic that it will restore my faith in the Greatcoats world once more.
November 25, 2023
A guide for the best high-handed insults.
Estevar Borros is one of the legendary sword-fighting magistrates known as the Greatcoats and the king's personal investigator of the supernatural.
He answers the call of monks of an abbey fighting over claims of a new pantheon arising following the murder of the old gods.
With his trusty, noble steed called Impetuous, Estevar must act as the crucible - sorting the falsities from the truth amidst demons, mad monks, and raving factions. It reads as a historical, justice-seeking, supernatural, dark fantasy. So, there’s something for everyone.
Do you need to read The Greatcoats series before this?
Yes, if you want the full backstory and history.
However, Castell does a brilliant job of giving you a brief overview of what happened and previous characters and stories are treated as legends in Estevar’s own adventures.
So, in that respect I think this stands quite well on its own.
The tone appears quite pretentious and is quite lethargic and long-winded. It’s a lot more similar in tone to the last book of the Greatcoats series, but with slightly less humour as there’s less characters to bounce off.
That’s not to say Castell doesn’t deliver some high-handed, hilarious gems. Especially insults.
”Rest assured, I will pay a reasonable fee for its loan, especially if I decide to stain this blade by carving your worthless hide, you pitiful, prancing popinjay, you crust of defecation stuck to the heel of better men's boots, so lacking in substance that you cannot even stink with distinction.”
Expect a lot of philosophical musings on faith, belief, and the power of, well, power.
Ultimately, I always find these kind of debates stimulating and fascinating in fantasy settings, but I know many others find it dry and a topic of self-indulgence.
”I have observed such rifts forming, theological differences festering into factionalism that tears religious communities apart and sets at each other the lay people whose own lives intertwine with those of the so-called faith, for all they never started the disputes and rarely understand the matters.”
Overall, quite slow for what one might expect to be a sword-wielding fantasy. Instead, expect a lot more clue-seeking, speculating, and judging.
Oh, and quite a few comments about Estevar being fat.
I would recommend this if you enjoyed the Justice of Kings by Richard Swan.
Thank you to Quercus Books for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
Estevar Borros is one of the legendary sword-fighting magistrates known as the Greatcoats and the king's personal investigator of the supernatural.
He answers the call of monks of an abbey fighting over claims of a new pantheon arising following the murder of the old gods.
With his trusty, noble steed called Impetuous, Estevar must act as the crucible - sorting the falsities from the truth amidst demons, mad monks, and raving factions. It reads as a historical, justice-seeking, supernatural, dark fantasy. So, there’s something for everyone.
Do you need to read The Greatcoats series before this?
Yes, if you want the full backstory and history.
However, Castell does a brilliant job of giving you a brief overview of what happened and previous characters and stories are treated as legends in Estevar’s own adventures.
So, in that respect I think this stands quite well on its own.
The tone appears quite pretentious and is quite lethargic and long-winded. It’s a lot more similar in tone to the last book of the Greatcoats series, but with slightly less humour as there’s less characters to bounce off.
That’s not to say Castell doesn’t deliver some high-handed, hilarious gems. Especially insults.
”Rest assured, I will pay a reasonable fee for its loan, especially if I decide to stain this blade by carving your worthless hide, you pitiful, prancing popinjay, you crust of defecation stuck to the heel of better men's boots, so lacking in substance that you cannot even stink with distinction.”
Expect a lot of philosophical musings on faith, belief, and the power of, well, power.
Ultimately, I always find these kind of debates stimulating and fascinating in fantasy settings, but I know many others find it dry and a topic of self-indulgence.
”I have observed such rifts forming, theological differences festering into factionalism that tears religious communities apart and sets at each other the lay people whose own lives intertwine with those of the so-called faith, for all they never started the disputes and rarely understand the matters.”
Overall, quite slow for what one might expect to be a sword-wielding fantasy. Instead, expect a lot more clue-seeking, speculating, and judging.
Oh, and quite a few comments about Estevar being fat.
I would recommend this if you enjoyed the Justice of Kings by Richard Swan.
Thank you to Quercus Books for providing an arc in exchange for a review!
Bookstagram
January 9, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I read the Greatcoats series a few years back. It was a little the Three Musketeers with Gods, Saints and Magic. Crucible of Chaos is a prequel to the Court of Shadows series, the next series set in the same world years after the Greatcoats series. This reminded me a little on Don Quixote as Estevar Borros and his faithful mule Imperious ride into a magical den of wolves so to speak to solve why the Monks on the isle of Isola Sombra have fractured into factions and possibly gone mad. He is there to perform an investigation and trial, however he might also witness the birth of a new god as well.
First of all, this can be read as a standalone. You will not have had to read the Greatcoats series to understand what is going on, however it does help to have some backstory and foundation of the characters of legend. The author does a really good job of setting up the history though, so it isn't needed to understand. Greatcoats are the law of the land, empowered by the King; they travel to be impartial judge, jury and executioner to disputes. Estevar has been called to an Island where the original gods, now dead, were rumored to be born. Something strange is afoot and to serve his King he must get to the bottom of it. Helped along by his mule in some unusual ways and a girl interested in becoming a Greatcoat herself, he will investigate all the weird happenings at the Island and why the monks have split into three factions. There is also a murder to be solved and a dead body that doesn't seem to want to stay in the ground to deal with.
This was an interesting tale full of political intrigue, betrayal and some magical shenanigans. Estevar will need to use all of his vast investigative tricks, subterfuge and a new ally to make it out of this situation alive. This is not a direct continuation of the Greatcoats series. It is set some years after the events of the series when all of those escapades have fallen into legend. New heroes will be needed. This didn't have quite as much humor as I'm used to from Sebastien de Castell and it will fall into the Grimdark category for me. But there are still great insults to be swung around, duels of both words and swords and Sherlock Holmes styles of investigation afoot to get to the bottom of the mystery. Also who knew I was going to love a stubborn mule so much but he is a great sidekick to the intrepid Cantor on this quest. The magic and mystery was interesting and complex, so you will need to put on your thinking hat.
Overall an interesting read if you appreciate a good political mystery and like to root for the unkempt detective in a story.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I read the Greatcoats series a few years back. It was a little the Three Musketeers with Gods, Saints and Magic. Crucible of Chaos is a prequel to the Court of Shadows series, the next series set in the same world years after the Greatcoats series. This reminded me a little on Don Quixote as Estevar Borros and his faithful mule Imperious ride into a magical den of wolves so to speak to solve why the Monks on the isle of Isola Sombra have fractured into factions and possibly gone mad. He is there to perform an investigation and trial, however he might also witness the birth of a new god as well.
First of all, this can be read as a standalone. You will not have had to read the Greatcoats series to understand what is going on, however it does help to have some backstory and foundation of the characters of legend. The author does a really good job of setting up the history though, so it isn't needed to understand. Greatcoats are the law of the land, empowered by the King; they travel to be impartial judge, jury and executioner to disputes. Estevar has been called to an Island where the original gods, now dead, were rumored to be born. Something strange is afoot and to serve his King he must get to the bottom of it. Helped along by his mule in some unusual ways and a girl interested in becoming a Greatcoat herself, he will investigate all the weird happenings at the Island and why the monks have split into three factions. There is also a murder to be solved and a dead body that doesn't seem to want to stay in the ground to deal with.
This was an interesting tale full of political intrigue, betrayal and some magical shenanigans. Estevar will need to use all of his vast investigative tricks, subterfuge and a new ally to make it out of this situation alive. This is not a direct continuation of the Greatcoats series. It is set some years after the events of the series when all of those escapades have fallen into legend. New heroes will be needed. This didn't have quite as much humor as I'm used to from Sebastien de Castell and it will fall into the Grimdark category for me. But there are still great insults to be swung around, duels of both words and swords and Sherlock Holmes styles of investigation afoot to get to the bottom of the mystery. Also who knew I was going to love a stubborn mule so much but he is a great sidekick to the intrepid Cantor on this quest. The magic and mystery was interesting and complex, so you will need to put on your thinking hat.
Overall an interesting read if you appreciate a good political mystery and like to root for the unkempt detective in a story.
”Rest assured, I will pay a reasonable fee for its loan, especially if I decide to stain this blade by carving your worthless hide, you pitiful, prancing popinjay, you crust of defecation stuck to the heel of better men's boots, so lacking in substance that you cannot even stink with distinction.”
June 26, 2024
Play of Shadows is one of my favorite reads of the year, so of course I needed to read the prequel. It's very different from Play of Shadows and I didn't always like the MC, but it's still a good book and a nice introduction to this new series.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
December 13, 2023
My expectation for this book was slightly different- I was dreaming of a direct continuation of the Greatcoats series -and this is not that. It’s darker and not funny. It has the feel of The Name of the Rose (the film at least) but within the fantasy genre. . (A bit!) Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
November 2, 2023
Huzzah , I believe I may be the first person to review this story on goodreads!!
Firstly! This book was incredibly fun and gosh have I missed the Greatcoats! No author writes like Sebastian de Castell. He's truly unique. His style and writing is whimsical, fluent and oddly beautiful, but also with an incredible ability to write a captivating and absorbing story.
This was a Greatcoats murder mystery. I wasn't expecting it, but it was fantastic.
The world of Tristia has changed! And we no longer ride with our three amigos Falcio, Kest and Brasti. A new hero has arrived! Estevar Borros!! (And his delightful sidekick Imperious the Mule!
Estevar is intelligent, articulate and quite the charmer. We get to experience him breaking down a mysterious murder and goings on, whilst maintaining the Greatcoats traditions and laws.
I just loved this book and cant wait for more. As SdC says himself. A new darkness threatens and new hero's will rise to face it
Firstly! This book was incredibly fun and gosh have I missed the Greatcoats! No author writes like Sebastian de Castell. He's truly unique. His style and writing is whimsical, fluent and oddly beautiful, but also with an incredible ability to write a captivating and absorbing story.
This was a Greatcoats murder mystery. I wasn't expecting it, but it was fantastic.
The world of Tristia has changed! And we no longer ride with our three amigos Falcio, Kest and Brasti. A new hero has arrived! Estevar Borros!! (And his delightful sidekick Imperious the Mule!
Estevar is intelligent, articulate and quite the charmer. We get to experience him breaking down a mysterious murder and goings on, whilst maintaining the Greatcoats traditions and laws.
I just loved this book and cant wait for more. As SdC says himself. A new darkness threatens and new hero's will rise to face it
December 31, 2023
Strange. The update field on the book didn't show. Had to go a different route to write this review. More an opinion than a review.
This is Sebastien de Castell at his goofy-ist. He brings back an overweight, sort of has been, Greatcoat, to investigate the bizarre, chaotic goings on at an island monastery. Greatcoat almost drowns just trying to get to the monastery and so begins his beginnings of a number of challenges along the trail of this tale. Ghosts, demons, trickery and surreal events abound. By far the best character of the book is Imperious. Imperious is a mule. Hence two stars.
This is Sebastien de Castell at his goofy-ist. He brings back an overweight, sort of has been, Greatcoat, to investigate the bizarre, chaotic goings on at an island monastery. Greatcoat almost drowns just trying to get to the monastery and so begins his beginnings of a number of challenges along the trail of this tale. Ghosts, demons, trickery and surreal events abound. By far the best character of the book is Imperious. Imperious is a mule. Hence two stars.
May 3, 2024
8.14 on CAWPILE
December 26, 2024
I really enjoyed another swashbuckling adventure with a new cast of characters. The donkey was my favourite! To my mind it wasn’t *quite* up to the standard of the original Greatcoats in terms of humour, but I’m still looking forward to the next one. It shouldn’t be long as Sebastian de Castell works hard and produces work very regularly! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
July 17, 2024
Crucible of chaos is the prequel of the long awaited new saga court of shadows by Sebastien de Castell in the same world of the greatcoats.
The greatcoats quartet was the first and acclaimed saga by Sebastien De castell , full of duels honor and dead gods. At long last the author drags us in this world again with an inaugural tome serving as a prequel to the main four books planned.
Crucible of chaos is about Estevar Barros, the king’s crucible and the greatcoat specialist in paranormal affairs. It took place two years after the events of the last book of the greatcoats “tyran’s throne » and we can remembered that the gods and saints had been murdered by an enemy looking to create a new god for his own ends. In this book we have a godless world but more importantly without hope too. Estevar Barros like all the greatcoats is trying to figure out this new world and stay true to his difficult mission bringing justice everywhere.
But one day he received a letter from the abbot of one of the most holiest place in Tristia and abbey situated on an island of Isola Sombra. The abbot is asking for his help in a rift growing between his monks on faith and gods.
Despite against his better judgment Estevar Barros will investigate and unravels mysteries and dark secrets that can bring Tristia to its end.
I have to say it’s really difficult to reviewing this book as the first half was hard to read and the only thing who makes me pursue it’s the fact that I’m really a big fan of this world. The pace was very slow and felt like the greatcoat was doing nothing in the investigation. Fortunately the second half was faster and eventful I finished it in two days.
The characters were good but not great.
Estevar Barros fits as a greatcoat he’s decent but not exceptional like Falcio. Most of the book is about him , and a lot of his interactions with the characters is about his weight. Fortunately he revealed more in his role of magistrate in the second half and he has a great companion the legendary Imperious his clever mule the first greatmule.
Caeda is a village girl assisting Estevar in his investigation, she has sharp wits and she’s an interesting character who knows more than she let on.
In the end I think it’s really interesting to read this book before diving in the play of shadows but as it’s a prequel you can read whenever you want.But I think that the events in this book will help understanding the main books.
November 30, 2023
I was so excited for this book, and I was let down by it so badly. If this hadn't been an arc, I wouldn't have finished it.
Let me start with the good: the mystery is well-crafted, and the world-building fascinating. The characters, if not exactly complex, are still original and fairly compelling.
Here end the good things I can say about this book, unfortunately. It squanders its potential. The biggest issue is the prose. It's is not bad, but it doesn't suit the tone: it's too verbose and that verboseness, in a dark, tense story that requires sparseness to make its point, undercuts the tension at every step.
Two stars because the bones were good, but the execution was severely lacking.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Let me start with the good: the mystery is well-crafted, and the world-building fascinating. The characters, if not exactly complex, are still original and fairly compelling.
Here end the good things I can say about this book, unfortunately. It squanders its potential. The biggest issue is the prose. It's is not bad, but it doesn't suit the tone: it's too verbose and that verboseness, in a dark, tense story that requires sparseness to make its point, undercuts the tension at every step.
Two stars because the bones were good, but the execution was severely lacking.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 8, 2024
"An investigator is always at war,’ he replied at last. ‘Victory occurs when the truth is revealed, defeat when the lie stands."
The King's Crucible, is a magistrate who is best known for his astute paranormal investigations, legendary sword fighting, and witty and sometimes contentious banter. He is also a charming individual, when the occasion calls for it.
Shrouded in secrecy and rumor, a monk uprising erupts on an isolated island nestled beside the brooding Isola Sombra sea. Enter Estevar Borros, The King's Crucible. Tasked with unraveling the mystery behind the rebellion, he soon discovers the island harbors secrets far deeper than its famed agriculture and renowned wine. Whispers speak of a legacy far older, claiming it as the very birthplace of the gods themselves.
Along for the ride is Estevar's loyal companion, Imperious, a mule with a mind sharper than a freshly honed blade. Imperious serves as the perfect animal companion, reminding him to keep his ego in check and his wits about him.
The story unfolds over a tumultuous few days, with you experiencing the world through the lens of Estevar's keen intellect and unwavering determination. While he wrestles with a slow-healing wound, and confronts delusional monks and terrifying demons.
“A mad fool! What will be left of you once the monsters prowling that cursed abbey have peeled away the last layers of your arrogance from your flesh?”
While Estevar is the main protagonist, he is joined by the presence of Caeda, a character who quickly became my favorite. Like Imperious, she possesses a sharp wit and a knack for keeping Estevar grounded. Yet, she also possesses a grace and eagerness to learn from him.
Whenever Estevar acknowledges her improvement in investigative skills, I can almost see the radiant smile forming on her face, a testament to her pure joy and dedication. However, to preserve the thrill of discovery and avoid spoilers, I won't elaborate further on her role in the story.
Though initially surprised by the book's slower pace, woven with philosophical discussions among its characters, it never felt tedious or drawn out. Instead, the author's prose, both beautiful and captivating, kept me enthralled throughout. Even during moments of relative calm, I found myself equally invested as when the action unfolded, captivated by the depth of thought and the characters' intellectual pursuits.
While I enjoyed the story, I did find one aspect somewhat jarring: the frequent references to Estevar's weight. de Castell's seemingly persistent focus on this aspect felt unnecessary and, at times, even detracted from the overall narrative.
In a nutshell the Crucible of Chaos is a murder mystery set in Sebastien de Castell world of the Greatcoats. This dark fantasy tale takes you on a journey of truth-seeking, filled with witty remarks, magic, action sequences, and even a touch of drama.
Overall, this was my first time reading anything by de Castell, and I'm eager to delve deeper into the world of the Greatcoats. If you're a fan of Richard Swan's Empire of the Wolf series, I would highly recommend giving this one a try. I believe fans will appreciate the similarities in writing style.
3.5 rounded up to 4
Disclaimer: ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review
The King's Crucible, is a magistrate who is best known for his astute paranormal investigations, legendary sword fighting, and witty and sometimes contentious banter. He is also a charming individual, when the occasion calls for it.
Shrouded in secrecy and rumor, a monk uprising erupts on an isolated island nestled beside the brooding Isola Sombra sea. Enter Estevar Borros, The King's Crucible. Tasked with unraveling the mystery behind the rebellion, he soon discovers the island harbors secrets far deeper than its famed agriculture and renowned wine. Whispers speak of a legacy far older, claiming it as the very birthplace of the gods themselves.
Along for the ride is Estevar's loyal companion, Imperious, a mule with a mind sharper than a freshly honed blade. Imperious serves as the perfect animal companion, reminding him to keep his ego in check and his wits about him.
The story unfolds over a tumultuous few days, with you experiencing the world through the lens of Estevar's keen intellect and unwavering determination. While he wrestles with a slow-healing wound, and confronts delusional monks and terrifying demons.
“A mad fool! What will be left of you once the monsters prowling that cursed abbey have peeled away the last layers of your arrogance from your flesh?”
While Estevar is the main protagonist, he is joined by the presence of Caeda, a character who quickly became my favorite. Like Imperious, she possesses a sharp wit and a knack for keeping Estevar grounded. Yet, she also possesses a grace and eagerness to learn from him.
Whenever Estevar acknowledges her improvement in investigative skills, I can almost see the radiant smile forming on her face, a testament to her pure joy and dedication. However, to preserve the thrill of discovery and avoid spoilers, I won't elaborate further on her role in the story.
Though initially surprised by the book's slower pace, woven with philosophical discussions among its characters, it never felt tedious or drawn out. Instead, the author's prose, both beautiful and captivating, kept me enthralled throughout. Even during moments of relative calm, I found myself equally invested as when the action unfolded, captivated by the depth of thought and the characters' intellectual pursuits.
While I enjoyed the story, I did find one aspect somewhat jarring: the frequent references to Estevar's weight. de Castell's seemingly persistent focus on this aspect felt unnecessary and, at times, even detracted from the overall narrative.
In a nutshell the Crucible of Chaos is a murder mystery set in Sebastien de Castell world of the Greatcoats. This dark fantasy tale takes you on a journey of truth-seeking, filled with witty remarks, magic, action sequences, and even a touch of drama.
Overall, this was my first time reading anything by de Castell, and I'm eager to delve deeper into the world of the Greatcoats. If you're a fan of Richard Swan's Empire of the Wolf series, I would highly recommend giving this one a try. I believe fans will appreciate the similarities in writing style.
3.5 rounded up to 4
Disclaimer: ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review
December 7, 2023
This author is an automatic buy for so many due to his style of prose and impressive characters . Let’s be honest I like others see his name and cannot wait to get my grubby hands on it ! If frank I didn’t even read the description and just wanted it but I feel I should point out it’s not perhaps the characters that readers are used to and I’m not even sure if the lead character will appeal to all as he’s well frankly not everyone’s idea of a hero . There is some humour incorporated here with an unlikely sidekick if I can call a mule that ? This does work as a standalone piece but reading previous books would certainly add much to understanding the world this author has created.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from NetGalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from NetGalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
May 2, 2024
Wish I'd discovered this author years ago.
June 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It started a bit slow, and lacks the brotherhood of the great coats, but I really was really fun. The mystery was interesting, characters fun, and overall a great addition to this world.
March 18, 2024
This is a fun jaunt all around, though one that didn't land well with me. Some 5-10 timeline years have passed since the events in the beloved Greatcoats series and here is a loose continuation of that world. All the events are contained on the island with a small cast of characters, a choice of 3-4 factions, and a good old mystery to dig to the bottom of.
I think where this fell short for me was the humour Castell goes for in here. I know it's in character for Estevars, but all the dialogue is over the top flowery to the point of absurdity, and though I did learn plenty of knew terms it was all a little grating after a while.
I was really excited to dive into Play of Shadows in a few months but now I'm kind of hesitant. Hoping with new pov's I will have a better time.
I think where this fell short for me was the humour Castell goes for in here. I know it's in character for Estevars, but all the dialogue is over the top flowery to the point of absurdity, and though I did learn plenty of knew terms it was all a little grating after a while.
I was really excited to dive into Play of Shadows in a few months but now I'm kind of hesitant. Hoping with new pov's I will have a better time.
July 14, 2024
Cast a light upon the things that hide in shadows [...], for there can be no justice in darkness.
The Greatcoats are back! And needed more than ever to bring justice to a nation torn apart.
Estevar Borros, The King's Crucible, receives urgent note from an abbot that he needs his help to restore peace to the island his monastery stands on. But once Estevar arrives, the abbot is dead, factions have formed and are fighting each other, a remarkable girl who may or may not be dead won't leave his side, and oh yes, the gods are dead and demons walk the earth. Holding a trial and righting the many wrongs commited on such holy ground seems impossible. Thankfully, his trusted mule, the noble Imperious, is always by his side...
In true de Castell fashion, this book is a perfect blend of wit and pathos, action and reverence, horror and beauty. It starts as a murder mystery on an isolated island, but somehow turns into so much more... It's just FUN to be back in the world of the Greatcoats (you don't need to have read the original Greatcoat novels- although, why wouldn't you, they are awesome) and I hope there will be many more to come.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The Greatcoats are back! And needed more than ever to bring justice to a nation torn apart.
Estevar Borros, The King's Crucible, receives urgent note from an abbot that he needs his help to restore peace to the island his monastery stands on. But once Estevar arrives, the abbot is dead, factions have formed and are fighting each other, a remarkable girl who may or may not be dead won't leave his side, and oh yes, the gods are dead and demons walk the earth. Holding a trial and righting the many wrongs commited on such holy ground seems impossible. Thankfully, his trusted mule, the noble Imperious, is always by his side...
In true de Castell fashion, this book is a perfect blend of wit and pathos, action and reverence, horror and beauty. It starts as a murder mystery on an isolated island, but somehow turns into so much more... It's just FUN to be back in the world of the Greatcoats (you don't need to have read the original Greatcoat novels- although, why wouldn't you, they are awesome) and I hope there will be many more to come.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
June 7, 2024
In my defense I’m such a MOOD Reader 👀
January 21, 2024
DNF at the 1/3 mark, and it breaks my heart. The tone is all over the shop, the plot moves glacially for a novel this short, and lead character Estevar isn't compelling for me as a protagonist. I'll still check out Play of Shadows in a few months but this definitely feels a step down from the original Greatcoats books.
January 26, 2024
January 2024
Kindle edition
Amazon purchase
The cover got me. I saw the hardback edition in Waterstones and the signed one in Forbidden planet but have no space. I caved and got the kindle edition. In the beginning it felt like there was something missing. I kept checking back to try and see if there was a prequel series. Might've been the greatcoats. But this is a prequel to a new series, so I guess we'll see.
I haven't been so happy with a main character since Reginald the fat vampire. He was confident, didn't care about appearances and just got on with it. A murder mystery with supernatural elements, gods and factions. In a way, he reminded me of the doctor, bluffing, yapping away, and single handedly playing catalyst to save to day. At the same time, keeping his cards close. It was beautiful. The culprit was a bit obvious but it felt more journey rather than the destination. It was worth it.
Kindle edition
Amazon purchase
The cover got me. I saw the hardback edition in Waterstones and the signed one in Forbidden planet but have no space. I caved and got the kindle edition. In the beginning it felt like there was something missing. I kept checking back to try and see if there was a prequel series. Might've been the greatcoats. But this is a prequel to a new series, so I guess we'll see.
I haven't been so happy with a main character since Reginald the fat vampire. He was confident, didn't care about appearances and just got on with it. A murder mystery with supernatural elements, gods and factions. In a way, he reminded me of the doctor, bluffing, yapping away, and single handedly playing catalyst to save to day. At the same time, keeping his cards close. It was beautiful. The culprit was a bit obvious but it felt more journey rather than the destination. It was worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2024
Estevar was a wonderful MC for this book, and it really is a book not a short story per se which was what I was expecting going into this. The story is robust, while giving us that familiar feeling of the Greatcoats world. I loved the additional context we got with this story iykyk and I'm SO intrigued to read Play of Shadows next.
I truly love the Greatcoats world. Each of the Greatcoats that we encounter along the way I want to hear stories from. Estevar being focused on occult and spooky happenings was a great and mystical way to expand upon this world even more. I really enjoyed it overall, though there were some funky pacing moments.
I truly love the Greatcoats world. Each of the Greatcoats that we encounter along the way I want to hear stories from. Estevar being focused on occult and spooky happenings was a great and mystical way to expand upon this world even more. I really enjoyed it overall, though there were some funky pacing moments.
September 20, 2024
On my blog.
Galley provided by publisher
I am absolutely certain now that Sebastien de Castell will not let me down with his books. Crucible of Chaos, a standalone novel that sort of links the end of the Greatcoats series to the new Court of Shadows series (or at least bridges the gap a little). It’s a murder mystery, set in a remote monastery that appears to have gone mad, and I honestly wish there would be an entire series of Borros investigating mysteries (along with his mule).
First things first: I know this is rejoining a world with a lot written about it before, but it feels like you could pick this up on its own and, yeah there might be a couple of confusing bits referencing the events of Greatcoats, but you would still have a readable book with plenty of worldbuilding to absorb. You could read this and read nothing else by de Castell and still feel like it’s a book that stands on its own two feet. So, if you’re in that boat and this book interests you, then read it! Trust me!
Secondly, all that’s great about every de Castell book I’ve read is, surprise surprise, also great here. Vibrant characters, absorbing action, and a mystery that keeps you on your toes. I didn’t want to put this book down, but I also didn’t want to finish it. Every time you think it’s given you all the answers, something else comes to light and you’re stuck wondering if Borros will even get out of this alive. (Side note here, it reminds me a lot of Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf series, albeit a fair bit less dark.)
What makes de Castell’s books so good for me is, yes, the combination of everything I’ve mentioned, but specifically it’s his characters who bring his books to life. Every single one of them feels distinct from the others, fully-realised and fleshed out, so that you could envisage them leaping off the page. Borros is another great addition to that count, and his dynamic with both his mule Imperious and the girl he makes his apprentice for the duration (this latter relationship, particularly, was my favourite) were very compelling. And another reason I didn’t want the book to end. Any chance of this trio going round the world of the Greatcoats investigating for another few books, haha?
Anyway, if you’ve passed on Sebastien de Castell up until now, I would say this is a great entry book, particularly into the Greatcoats series, although as a standalone too. If you want your fantasy reads to be full of action, but with characters who feel real and worldbuilding that doesn’t bog you down, then look no further!
Galley provided by publisher
I am absolutely certain now that Sebastien de Castell will not let me down with his books. Crucible of Chaos, a standalone novel that sort of links the end of the Greatcoats series to the new Court of Shadows series (or at least bridges the gap a little). It’s a murder mystery, set in a remote monastery that appears to have gone mad, and I honestly wish there would be an entire series of Borros investigating mysteries (along with his mule).
First things first: I know this is rejoining a world with a lot written about it before, but it feels like you could pick this up on its own and, yeah there might be a couple of confusing bits referencing the events of Greatcoats, but you would still have a readable book with plenty of worldbuilding to absorb. You could read this and read nothing else by de Castell and still feel like it’s a book that stands on its own two feet. So, if you’re in that boat and this book interests you, then read it! Trust me!
Secondly, all that’s great about every de Castell book I’ve read is, surprise surprise, also great here. Vibrant characters, absorbing action, and a mystery that keeps you on your toes. I didn’t want to put this book down, but I also didn’t want to finish it. Every time you think it’s given you all the answers, something else comes to light and you’re stuck wondering if Borros will even get out of this alive. (Side note here, it reminds me a lot of Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf series, albeit a fair bit less dark.)
What makes de Castell’s books so good for me is, yes, the combination of everything I’ve mentioned, but specifically it’s his characters who bring his books to life. Every single one of them feels distinct from the others, fully-realised and fleshed out, so that you could envisage them leaping off the page. Borros is another great addition to that count, and his dynamic with both his mule Imperious and the girl he makes his apprentice for the duration (this latter relationship, particularly, was my favourite) were very compelling. And another reason I didn’t want the book to end. Any chance of this trio going round the world of the Greatcoats investigating for another few books, haha?
Anyway, if you’ve passed on Sebastien de Castell up until now, I would say this is a great entry book, particularly into the Greatcoats series, although as a standalone too. If you want your fantasy reads to be full of action, but with characters who feel real and worldbuilding that doesn’t bog you down, then look no further!
February 1, 2024
I love all Sebastien de Castell’s Greatcoats books, though I confess I miss the characters from the first four-book sequence beginning with Traitor’s Blade (highly recommended). In this we meet a new character who appeared in the short stories contained in Tales of the Greatcoats, Estevar Borros, the broad-girthed, duel-fighting magistrate, and his faithful, if occasionally unlikely, mule, Imperious. (No, Sebastien, mules don’t cock their legs and pee like dogs, sorry.) Not remotely recovered from a near-fatal wound in a previous duel, Estevar is called to the holy island of Isola Sombra where the monks are splitting into factions and running mad. On arrival (after a journey that nearly kills him) he finds Venia, the abbot who summoned him, has been murdered, but won’t stay in his grave. There’s a rogue ex-priest and a girl who might or might not be dead, plus a whole host of demons, but who summoned them? At times the religious arguments get a bit abstruse, but stick with it. This is a complex case for Borros to figure out, so complex that it might kill him.
August 1, 2024
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For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
A spectacular return to the swashbuckling world of Tristia and the legendary Greatcoats! Though there is no Falcio, Brasti or Kest, this story is about Estevar Borros. I got my first introduction to Estevar Valejan Duerisi Borros in Tales of the Greatcoats, which is a fantastic collection of short stories within the world, though it’s been a while since I read it, I had to do a bit of a refresher on the stories he was the mc in. If you have not read it, do not fret, Crucible of Chaos can be read as a standalone prelude to Play of Shadows.
I’ve been very vocal about my love for the Greatcoats world, so I’ve been looking forward to getting back in for some time (The Broken Binding really needs to make a special edition 😊) . Back to Estevar Valejan Duerisi Borros and his noble steed, Imperious the Greatmule, will I say his full name again? It’s very likely. Estevar has a unique look to him and for that reason, I can’t help but think of Oliver Platt because of his role as Porthos in The 3 Musketeers film, as well as Matt Berry, who most may recognize as Laszlo on What We Do in the Shadows. With his size being a noticeable characteristic, it’s his “proclivity for pomposity” that makes me get some vibes of Johnny Bravo but with a mix of Enigo Montoya from The Princess Bride, though his intellect and propensity to solve supernatural events with common sense adds in a bit of Mulder from the X-Files. That’s a lot to describe a single person, but let’s be honest, it’s hard to find a single character that gets close to Estevar Valejan Duerisi Borros, the King’s Crucible.
“A rapier blade too often drawn becomes nicked and dulled, requiring a whetstone to sharpen, but a mind is honed only through the vigorous clash and clang of incompatible ideas.”
I always love when fantasy intermingles with other genre’s, and de Castell did that flawlessly by adding in a detective/investigation, whodunnit type of story to give this a bit of a different feel from previous stories told in the world of Tristia, while there are many of those to draw inspiration from, this gave me a very Sleepy Hollow-like vibe as the story is centered around supernatural and religious type of events. At first I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy it just because it wasn’t my three favorite companions, but Estevar kept growing on me, and then the introduction of the other characters like Caeda as a bit of a sidekick made it even more enjoyable as the investigation went on. With that being said, one cannot help but mention the Greatmule, Imperious who makes many scenes even better with his presence alone.
I can’t remember giggling so much while reading/listening to something that wasn’t directly meant to be a comedic novel. This had a perfect mix of comedic relief while the tone of the story was meant to be a bit darker. Though I wouldn’t put this in the category of dark fantasy, just a fantasy novel with some darker tones. And as always, great narration will always make a book even better, and Joe Jameson, who is one of my favorite narrators, reprises his role as narrator for yet another de Castell novel and brings it home with a slam dunk. He continues to make the listener focus on every scene and bring in details with his voice that makes every scene better. It feels good to be back it he world of Tristia again!
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.75/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
A spectacular return to the swashbuckling world of Tristia and the legendary Greatcoats! Though there is no Falcio, Brasti or Kest, this story is about Estevar Borros. I got my first introduction to Estevar Valejan Duerisi Borros in Tales of the Greatcoats, which is a fantastic collection of short stories within the world, though it’s been a while since I read it, I had to do a bit of a refresher on the stories he was the mc in. If you have not read it, do not fret, Crucible of Chaos can be read as a standalone prelude to Play of Shadows.
I’ve been very vocal about my love for the Greatcoats world, so I’ve been looking forward to getting back in for some time (The Broken Binding really needs to make a special edition 😊) . Back to Estevar Valejan Duerisi Borros and his noble steed, Imperious the Greatmule, will I say his full name again? It’s very likely. Estevar has a unique look to him and for that reason, I can’t help but think of Oliver Platt because of his role as Porthos in The 3 Musketeers film, as well as Matt Berry, who most may recognize as Laszlo on What We Do in the Shadows. With his size being a noticeable characteristic, it’s his “proclivity for pomposity” that makes me get some vibes of Johnny Bravo but with a mix of Enigo Montoya from The Princess Bride, though his intellect and propensity to solve supernatural events with common sense adds in a bit of Mulder from the X-Files. That’s a lot to describe a single person, but let’s be honest, it’s hard to find a single character that gets close to Estevar Valejan Duerisi Borros, the King’s Crucible.
“A rapier blade too often drawn becomes nicked and dulled, requiring a whetstone to sharpen, but a mind is honed only through the vigorous clash and clang of incompatible ideas.”
I always love when fantasy intermingles with other genre’s, and de Castell did that flawlessly by adding in a detective/investigation, whodunnit type of story to give this a bit of a different feel from previous stories told in the world of Tristia, while there are many of those to draw inspiration from, this gave me a very Sleepy Hollow-like vibe as the story is centered around supernatural and religious type of events. At first I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy it just because it wasn’t my three favorite companions, but Estevar kept growing on me, and then the introduction of the other characters like Caeda as a bit of a sidekick made it even more enjoyable as the investigation went on. With that being said, one cannot help but mention the Greatmule, Imperious who makes many scenes even better with his presence alone.
I can’t remember giggling so much while reading/listening to something that wasn’t directly meant to be a comedic novel. This had a perfect mix of comedic relief while the tone of the story was meant to be a bit darker. Though I wouldn’t put this in the category of dark fantasy, just a fantasy novel with some darker tones. And as always, great narration will always make a book even better, and Joe Jameson, who is one of my favorite narrators, reprises his role as narrator for yet another de Castell novel and brings it home with a slam dunk. He continues to make the listener focus on every scene and bring in details with his voice that makes every scene better. It feels good to be back it he world of Tristia again!
February 19, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and to the Editor. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I love Sebastian De Castell as an author, and I love him even more if we are talking about The Greatcoats, because this is one of my favorite series ever! And this book is set in the same world, so I just had to read it, simply as that. But I think that my enthusiasm wasn’t really my friend this time. Mind me, this is a good book, and I enjoyed it a lot but… but I did not love it as much as the first series, and that’s okay and also quite understandable because they are quite different books, and I know that I shouldn’t do comparison like that but, at the same time, not comparing the two was extremely hard, because not only the world is the same (this book took place a little bit after the end of the first series) but the MC often refer to Falcio (the MC of the other series) so… it was always on my mind! How could I not think about Falcio, with Kest and Brasti, when they (okay, only Falcio, but there is no Falcio without the other two so… moot point!) are mentioned here and there???
So yeah, my expectations weren’t really so helpful here, but things went well all the same. While The Greatcoats is more epic, more complex, and just different, Crucible of Chaos is a good mystery set in a fantasy setting. And sure, we are talking about a low fantasy setting, where more than magic at play we get to see theology (and De Castell and theology are a great combo, trust me on this), but still fantasy, and the mystery part is what moves the plot along. I had a lot of fun trying to follow Estevar around while he solved a mystery inside another bigger mystery. We have a killer to find, but we also have the mystery of what the hell is happening in the abbey. We have strange factions inside the abbey, Gods that are dead and Gods that are maybe not so dead, intriguing characters, and a brave mule.
Yes… a mule. Imperious here steals the scene, more than once. He is the best character in this story, and this book is worth a read only for him. Mind me, the characters as a whole are interesting. Estevar is a fine investigator and quite the exemplar of Greatcoat, I loved spending time with him, Caeda is intriguing, Brother Agneta and Mother Leogado are the kind of characters we need more around (because bad-ass old women are always worth meeting!) and Strigan has his moments too (sure, they are few and far between, but still…), but Imperious is just the best. Prove me wrong!
It seems like February is a good month for mystery/fantasy because this is the second pretty good one I have read. Sure, it is highly different from The Tainted Cup, they are almost opposite in a lot of ways, but I had a pretty good time with both of them, and here we have De Castell’s brand of humor carrying us through a bleak story, and I am so satisfied with it all! And since this is a sort of prequel, or prelude, to Play of Shadows I can’t wait to get that one started too!
I love Sebastian De Castell as an author, and I love him even more if we are talking about The Greatcoats, because this is one of my favorite series ever! And this book is set in the same world, so I just had to read it, simply as that. But I think that my enthusiasm wasn’t really my friend this time. Mind me, this is a good book, and I enjoyed it a lot but… but I did not love it as much as the first series, and that’s okay and also quite understandable because they are quite different books, and I know that I shouldn’t do comparison like that but, at the same time, not comparing the two was extremely hard, because not only the world is the same (this book took place a little bit after the end of the first series) but the MC often refer to Falcio (the MC of the other series) so… it was always on my mind! How could I not think about Falcio, with Kest and Brasti, when they (okay, only Falcio, but there is no Falcio without the other two so… moot point!) are mentioned here and there???
So yeah, my expectations weren’t really so helpful here, but things went well all the same. While The Greatcoats is more epic, more complex, and just different, Crucible of Chaos is a good mystery set in a fantasy setting. And sure, we are talking about a low fantasy setting, where more than magic at play we get to see theology (and De Castell and theology are a great combo, trust me on this), but still fantasy, and the mystery part is what moves the plot along. I had a lot of fun trying to follow Estevar around while he solved a mystery inside another bigger mystery. We have a killer to find, but we also have the mystery of what the hell is happening in the abbey. We have strange factions inside the abbey, Gods that are dead and Gods that are maybe not so dead, intriguing characters, and a brave mule.
Yes… a mule. Imperious here steals the scene, more than once. He is the best character in this story, and this book is worth a read only for him. Mind me, the characters as a whole are interesting. Estevar is a fine investigator and quite the exemplar of Greatcoat, I loved spending time with him, Caeda is intriguing, Brother Agneta and Mother Leogado are the kind of characters we need more around (because bad-ass old women are always worth meeting!) and Strigan has his moments too (sure, they are few and far between, but still…), but Imperious is just the best. Prove me wrong!
It seems like February is a good month for mystery/fantasy because this is the second pretty good one I have read. Sure, it is highly different from The Tainted Cup, they are almost opposite in a lot of ways, but I had a pretty good time with both of them, and here we have De Castell’s brand of humor carrying us through a bleak story, and I am so satisfied with it all! And since this is a sort of prequel, or prelude, to Play of Shadows I can’t wait to get that one started too!
December 4, 2023
Thank you Quercus Books and NetGalley, for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review!
This is a 336 pages long Greatcoats novel but I would have loved to have spent even more time with these awesome characters. So I’m hoping we will get to meet them again in future books! This book is perfectly readable on its own by the way.
It started in a very exciting way!! WHAT A WILD RIDE!!! After that it went into a more slow paced dark mystery (also because of the amazing use of language, it took me a bit longer to read) with an epic ending that gave me goosebumps (especially the final sentence) and the best epilogue <3.
Our main character and Greatcoat Estevar, is one of the King’s traveling magistrates who in this story, investigates unnatural occurrences at a great abbey that towers above the sea called Isola Sombra, set on by the murder of the Gods 2 years ago.
His animal companion is one of the best I’ve ever come across. He’s not a pony but he did remind me of my pony Bounty, who has spent the past 25 years “by my side” trying to bite me a lot and absolutely always doing what he wants, unbothered by restrictions or directions. It’s hilarious at times. Both of them, the real and the fictional companion are strong and entertaining and have my heart.
An unexpected friendship I loved a lot, blooms in this story. As unexpected and surprising as many goings-on in this book.
Estevar has a passion for justice, a talent for observation and he is quite the character (reckless, funny, terribly clever and determined come to mind).
I was in awe of the writing and the details that slowly built the scenes in my head and of how the author made something so well known to me as peaceful and holy, into something threatening and cursed.
I’m going to end this review with praise for some amazing side characters! Among them a hilarious actor/knight and a few strong somewhat excentric women.
This is a 336 pages long Greatcoats novel but I would have loved to have spent even more time with these awesome characters. So I’m hoping we will get to meet them again in future books! This book is perfectly readable on its own by the way.
It started in a very exciting way!! WHAT A WILD RIDE!!! After that it went into a more slow paced dark mystery (also because of the amazing use of language, it took me a bit longer to read) with an epic ending that gave me goosebumps (especially the final sentence) and the best epilogue <3.
Our main character and Greatcoat Estevar, is one of the King’s traveling magistrates who in this story, investigates unnatural occurrences at a great abbey that towers above the sea called Isola Sombra, set on by the murder of the Gods 2 years ago.
His animal companion is one of the best I’ve ever come across. He’s not a pony but he did remind me of my pony Bounty, who has spent the past 25 years “by my side” trying to bite me a lot and absolutely always doing what he wants, unbothered by restrictions or directions. It’s hilarious at times. Both of them, the real and the fictional companion are strong and entertaining and have my heart.
An unexpected friendship I loved a lot, blooms in this story. As unexpected and surprising as many goings-on in this book.
Estevar has a passion for justice, a talent for observation and he is quite the character (reckless, funny, terribly clever and determined come to mind).
I was in awe of the writing and the details that slowly built the scenes in my head and of how the author made something so well known to me as peaceful and holy, into something threatening and cursed.
I’m going to end this review with praise for some amazing side characters! Among them a hilarious actor/knight and a few strong somewhat excentric women.
October 28, 2025
To borrow from the oeuvre of the MC Estevar Valjean Duerisi Borrus, I am going to be a little corny here, a prerogative of those of (ahem) "advancing" years! This was really just a beautiful and yet exciting adventure story. It extols the virtues of justice over corruption, bravery over fear, love over despair and faith over all. It was also a HELL of a lot of fun. Wonderful character development with Estevar a truly memorable main character, an amalgam of Porthos with a hint of Aramis and Athos and a large dose of Sherlock Holmes. The secondary characters are so fully drawn as to step off the page (and you gotta love a story where a mule is a central character). The pacing was perfect. Each chapter seemed to be complete unto themselves and yet move the story along at an ever advancing pace. The prose was sparkling with the dialog displaying an often self deprecating manner and yet rapier like wit. The plot was an occult murder mystery with Estevar the main character assisted by the mysterious "Piccolo".
This book is styled as a "prelude" to the Court of Shadows but seems to me to be either a sequel to the original Greatcoats Quartet or a transition to the new series. Reading the original series would definitely add context to the story. However, I had read the original series a few years ago and they were not exactly fresh in my mind. I think this book would read just fine as a stand alone for those who haven't read the original series and either don't have the time to do so or, for some reason, wish to deprive themselves of the real pleasure of doing so.
This book is styled as a "prelude" to the Court of Shadows but seems to me to be either a sequel to the original Greatcoats Quartet or a transition to the new series. Reading the original series would definitely add context to the story. However, I had read the original series a few years ago and they were not exactly fresh in my mind. I think this book would read just fine as a stand alone for those who haven't read the original series and either don't have the time to do so or, for some reason, wish to deprive themselves of the real pleasure of doing so.
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