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The Paladin's Thief #3
Swords
Teamus “Teacup” Steeps is an acquisitioner, not a thief. Or he was. It's pretty hard to hold down any kind of job—reputable or not—when the assassin's guild thinks you've challenged their honor. (And it really doesn’t help that his friends keep bragging about it.)
With the dark guild dogging his every step, Teamus decides there's no shame in seeking protection for his family in Fortrus, a city that prides itself in being “100% assassin-free.” Unfortunately, Fortrus also prides itself in stirring up the very kind of trouble that Teacup would like to avoid.
SWORDS takes the loose ends from DARTS and RINGS and weaves a tapestry twice as big, exploring the themes of order and chaos on an increasingly epic scale. As
Sword and Sorcery pastiche, SWORDS represents the core fantasy characters and archetypes that enthusiasts love (and hate), chips away at their hidden motivations, and reminds us that good friends are hard to come by.
With the dark guild dogging his every step, Teamus decides there's no shame in seeking protection for his family in Fortrus, a city that prides itself in being “100% assassin-free.” Unfortunately, Fortrus also prides itself in stirring up the very kind of trouble that Teacup would like to avoid.
SWORDS takes the loose ends from DARTS and RINGS and weaves a tapestry twice as big, exploring the themes of order and chaos on an increasingly epic scale. As
Sword and Sorcery pastiche, SWORDS represents the core fantasy characters and archetypes that enthusiasts love (and hate), chips away at their hidden motivations, and reminds us that good friends are hard to come by.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2016
8 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin K. Hewett
8 books46 followersBenjamin K. Hewett lives in Houston and translates English into English for NASA. He also speaks French, mumbles German, and is slowly learning Arabic and Chinese. He is a Vera Hinckley Mayhew Award recipient and winner of the 2019 Marburg Award in Germany. In addition to reading and writing, Ben enjoys spending time with his three kids, playing jazz piano, and juggling fire.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in French, a Master of Public Administration, and was once a fourth grade teacher.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in French, a Master of Public Administration, and was once a fourth grade teacher.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2019
3/17/19--I just finished rereading swords in anticipation of Shadowcloaks, and I have to say, NOTHING was dulled by the second reading! This story is complex, fast-paced, and exciting! I highly recommend it!
1/26/16--Swords is the delightfully witty and fast-paced third installment in Hewlett's Paladin's Thief series.
The adventures of Teacup, Magnus, Lucinda, and Carmen intensify as a mysterious red-haired woman enters the scene, magii wreak havoc, Dreadlords are born, and double-crossers are double-crossed.
The swift action sequences are well-balanced with romantic intrigues and Teacup's challenges raising teenagers as his own life becomes increasingly periled.
Well-written, nuanced, and witty, the precise prose and interesting cast are enough to make this book an enjoyable read. Add to that magic rings, complex friendships, swordplay, damsels who hold their own, and an "acquisitioner" for a protagonist, and you have a classic fantasy series in the making.
I'm already looking forward to book four!
1/26/16--Swords is the delightfully witty and fast-paced third installment in Hewlett's Paladin's Thief series.
The adventures of Teacup, Magnus, Lucinda, and Carmen intensify as a mysterious red-haired woman enters the scene, magii wreak havoc, Dreadlords are born, and double-crossers are double-crossed.
The swift action sequences are well-balanced with romantic intrigues and Teacup's challenges raising teenagers as his own life becomes increasingly periled.
Well-written, nuanced, and witty, the precise prose and interesting cast are enough to make this book an enjoyable read. Add to that magic rings, complex friendships, swordplay, damsels who hold their own, and an "acquisitioner" for a protagonist, and you have a classic fantasy series in the making.
I'm already looking forward to book four!
February 29, 2016
This series only gets better with time. The third installment was much longer than the first two, but it was equally well written and paced. Funny, serious, philosophical and even feminist in parts, this is one great series to be hooked to. Can't wait for the next one!
I've fallen in love with teacup, Lucinda and magnus( he reminds me of carrot from discworld)
I've fallen in love with teacup, Lucinda and magnus( he reminds me of carrot from discworld)
August 3, 2022
Great story, action and adventure.
This is a great, fast moving adventure book. The character development is excellent, and there's mostly the proper much of action and description of surroundings.
The plot centers around some adventurers that are running from one set of problems just to land into another set at their supposed safe haven. There are clearly good characters, and an interesting mix of morals that keep you turning until the last page trying to figure out who's on the side of light and who isn't.
It's a great young adult book, no cussing or romance beyond flirtation and maybe a kiss. However, there's enough 'everything else' to fully keep an adult engaged.
I'd take half a star for editing, as there's a few wrong words and misplaced quotation marks that had me stumbling for a few moments while reading. A great, imaginative author, though!
If you need a copy editor for future endeavors, I have 12 years of being taught grammar by nuns. Just let me know!
This is a great, fast moving adventure book. The character development is excellent, and there's mostly the proper much of action and description of surroundings.
The plot centers around some adventurers that are running from one set of problems just to land into another set at their supposed safe haven. There are clearly good characters, and an interesting mix of morals that keep you turning until the last page trying to figure out who's on the side of light and who isn't.
It's a great young adult book, no cussing or romance beyond flirtation and maybe a kiss. However, there's enough 'everything else' to fully keep an adult engaged.
I'd take half a star for editing, as there's a few wrong words and misplaced quotation marks that had me stumbling for a few moments while reading. A great, imaginative author, though!
If you need a copy editor for future endeavors, I have 12 years of being taught grammar by nuns. Just let me know!
June 22, 2023
Swords
I'm glad I picked up this series again! Its a quick read but has riveting characters that has you questioning what it really means to be "good" and "bad". I'm looking forward to finsihing the series soon.
I'm glad I picked up this series again! Its a quick read but has riveting characters that has you questioning what it really means to be "good" and "bad". I'm looking forward to finsihing the series soon.
January 24, 2022
Swords is the third installment in the Paladin's Thief series and the longest one so far.
The characters that we've come to know and love in the first books Darts and Rings - Teacup, Lucinda and Magnus - leave lower Ector to escape their enemies and save their own necks, right after a bit of persuading by killer nightshades in a compelling fight at the beginning of the book.
I enjoyed traveling right alongside them through the world outside of Teacup's hometown and arriving in the very different world of the Paladins in Fortrus. We learn about their order, their history and their worldview and meet the elders in charge, not all of which have good intentions, no matter what they claim.
The new arrivals, our friends, all try to fit in and find their places there, just in time for more danger and trouble that is largely stirred up by an old friend of Magnus', one of the more intriguing characters in this book. After reading it, I'm still not sure if he's one of the good guys.
Of course, there are again nightshades about and they have brought powerful allies this time - magii, who are just as hard to fight. The relationship between Paladins and nightshades is explored further and it quickly becomes clear that light (good) and dark (bad) are not enough to cleanly separate all the gray in the world. I really enjoyed the moral ambiguity in this story and the realization that simply being part of a virtuous organization does not make one virtuous by default.
Teacup, who is one of the grayer characters in this story, again needs all of his skills and all of his friends to protect his family and make Fortrus safe again.
All in all, Swords is a great continuation of the series. The characters keep on growing and make me laugh. The middle part got a bit slow, but the author more than makes up for that with a fast-paced beginning, wonderful description of the extended fantasy world and believable characters.
Teacup's own love story (that seemed to heat up at the end of the last book) is sadly put on the back-burner in this one, but the mayor cliffhanger at the end promises more to come for the love story and other exciting adventures.
The characters that we've come to know and love in the first books Darts and Rings - Teacup, Lucinda and Magnus - leave lower Ector to escape their enemies and save their own necks, right after a bit of persuading by killer nightshades in a compelling fight at the beginning of the book.
I enjoyed traveling right alongside them through the world outside of Teacup's hometown and arriving in the very different world of the Paladins in Fortrus. We learn about their order, their history and their worldview and meet the elders in charge, not all of which have good intentions, no matter what they claim.
The new arrivals, our friends, all try to fit in and find their places there, just in time for more danger and trouble that is largely stirred up by an old friend of Magnus', one of the more intriguing characters in this book. After reading it, I'm still not sure if he's one of the good guys.
Of course, there are again nightshades about and they have brought powerful allies this time - magii, who are just as hard to fight. The relationship between Paladins and nightshades is explored further and it quickly becomes clear that light (good) and dark (bad) are not enough to cleanly separate all the gray in the world. I really enjoyed the moral ambiguity in this story and the realization that simply being part of a virtuous organization does not make one virtuous by default.
Teacup, who is one of the grayer characters in this story, again needs all of his skills and all of his friends to protect his family and make Fortrus safe again.
All in all, Swords is a great continuation of the series. The characters keep on growing and make me laugh. The middle part got a bit slow, but the author more than makes up for that with a fast-paced beginning, wonderful description of the extended fantasy world and believable characters.
Teacup's own love story (that seemed to heat up at the end of the last book) is sadly put on the back-burner in this one, but the mayor cliffhanger at the end promises more to come for the love story and other exciting adventures.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews