Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords

Yarnsworld #3

by Benedict Patrick

Don't draw your blade in the City of Swords, unless you're willing to kill… or ready to die.

Young and filled with idealistic fervor, Arturo packs his blade and travels to the fabled City of Swords in the hopes of joining the dashing Bravadori. Yet upon arriving he discovers these masked vigilantes have more in common with brutal thugs than noble monster slayers. Disillusioned and mocked, he stubbornly refuses to give up his dreams.

When an impending bandit attack threatens untold depravities upon a distant village, and no others will heed the call for help, Arturo joins forces with a worthless outcast and a walking legend to attempt the impossible, to traverse the demon-haunted wilderness and prove that in the City of Swords, true heroes can rise from the unlikeliest of places.

Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is a gritty, action-packed standalone novel set in Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld, a land where folktales and fantasy mix, where the monsters from stories are real.

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Mythology, Dark, Ebooks

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2017

About the author

Benedict Patrick is from a small town in Northern Ireland called Banbridge, but has been living and working in Scotland since he moved there at the age of eighteen. Tragically, that was quite a while ago.

He has been writing for most of his life, and has been reading for pretty much all of it (with help from mum and dad at the beginning). Benedict's life changed when a substitute primary school teacher read his class part of The Hobbit and later loaned him the book – he fell in love with the fantasy genre and never looked back.

They Mostly Come Out At Night is his debut novel, and is the first novel in The Yarnsworld series.

Try out some free Yarnsworld stories by signing up to the mailing list: http://eepurl.com/b4UNHj

Reviews

[James Tivendale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Benedict Patrick for kindly sending me an advanced reader copy of Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords in exchange for an honest review. The City of Swords is the home of the Bravadori. These warriors, that are divided into different factions, have the Knack, which grants them special capabilities that equate to exceptional sword-fighting prowess. Their tales are known throughout the world, as it the quality of their awe-inspiring deeds and undeniable valour. Arturo has long admired these talented mask-wearing heroes from afar, wishing to become one of them and perhaps recreate similar outstanding actions that can be written within the pages of legends. He finds himself at the aforementioned city to hopefully make his dreams come true. He's young, has acquired a mask, and has a few farm-ravaging bandits under his kill-count but he was not prepared for what would await him in this famous city.

This novel is the third that is set within Yarnsworld and I am pretty certain all these tales are standalones. This was my first foray into reading Patrick's work so can truly state that this narrative works great if read in isolation. I analysed that certain magics, myths, and histories would crossover yet, after starting with entry number 3, I wish to go check out his previous work as soon as I can. Patrick is a current SPFBO entrant and I'm certain this new novel would do well if entered next year.

After an unforgiving introduction for Arturo in the city which he initially approached flaunting the pseudonym Hungry Wolf, he is bested and re-Christened Starving Pup. He now understands that the stories and the unwavering loyalty of the Bravadori may have been exaggerated. Battered, embarrassed, and very bloody, he still somehow keeps hope.

There are 3 main characters. Previously discussed Arturo, Crazy Racoon - a warrior legend who inspires fear in the eyes of all who see him, and Yizel - a Bravadori who fell from grace and although being a sword-fighting expert and highly sought after for her unique skills, is looked down upon by all and bears the title "shaven." In my mind, I envisaged Crazy Racoon as looking like The Hound from A Game of Thrones, Yizel as being similar to Ferro in The First Law, and Arturo as a wide-eyed wannabe hero who's never understood how shit the world is. Quite a trio. The book, written in 3rd person, flipped between the 3 very awesome main perspectives. It's true that a handful of side characters seemed like devices to aid plot progression but in a shortish book that was okay. I really enjoyed the aspect that, at a chapters finale we are gifted a flashback, fable, or interlude which were unique and interesting short stories in themselves. This story also presented a quality that I enjoy in epic fantasy tales which is when points of view perspectives overlap. With this, we get a "double-take" on important events that are often from conflicting opinionated viewpoints.

The unlikely trio somehow unites for a potentially suicidal mission which includes characters falling from grace, finding a reason to truly live again and to prove certain misconceptions should not define them.

This book is superbly well written. It's no wonder there is a buzz surrounding his work in the self-published scene at the moment. Although there were a handful of grammatical errors, which is true for most books these days, there were no lazy words or needless use of phrase repetition. It read as if every single word or statement was chosen specifically to heighten a scene, add drama, or to make us care more about the characters.

Personally, one of my only criticisms is that the final scene/ showdown was over too fast after a stunning build up. I've been known to say this about certain mega-hits so it may just be me. The culmination was a fine mix of enthralling action and intricate fantasy, therefore, it was pretty great but I just wanted a bit more.

Starving Pup reminded me of a younger Thomas Senlin (The Books of Babel) being a wide-eyed likeable protagonist and having to adapt to the world not being as glorious as he was lead to believe. There is also a similarity to how they act in the face of unspeakable and seemingly unassailable danger.

"Don't draw your blade in the City of Swords, unless you're willing to kill or be killed."

To conclude, this story is an exquisite and detailed fantasy gem that contains great characters, a unique world, deep histories, and a mysterious Black Sheppardess.

[Benedict Patrick]

I'll not be writing a review of my own book (seems a bit unfair, doesn't it?) but I will use this space to give updates on the novel's progress.

17th October - The book is released! Launch day was an amazing experience, with so many kind words from people in the fantasy community. A huge thank you to everyone who helped get this story out into the world, and I hope everyone enjoys reading about this unique part of the Yarnsworld...

6th October - The cover has been unleashed! This one is easily my favourite yet. Look out for the book appearing on Amazon in the next few weeks...

5th October - Cover reveal tomorrow!

28th September - The print proof arrived today. So gorgeous...

22nd September - ARCs have been sent! Get ready for a cover reveal in the next few weeks...

9th September - I finished my final readthrough of the book last night. Always great to get to this stage, as things are so close to launch now. Got a few more eyes doing some last minute checks before getting ARCs out later this month...

1st August - City of Swords is now with the beta team. Time to wait nervously...

[Lukasz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benedict Patrick has a Knack for writing engaging stories that merge folktales and fantasy. Yarnsworld is slowly becoming one of my favorite fantasy places. If you haven't visited it yet, you definitely should.

Arturo is a young and naive boy who dreams of becoming a Bravador - protector of the weak and helpless. He packs his blade and travels to the fabled City of Swords to prove himself and join one of Bravadori stables. He has a Knack after all - he's able to read unnoticeable patterns from his opponents' actions and use this information to predict how they would act in battle. A useful gift that, he's sure, will allow him to get renown.

Soon, his dreams are shattered. It turns out the Bravadori of Espadapan are just thugs in masks, taking what they can for fame, glory or the sheer joy of violence and humiliating their opponents. They're just sad echoes of Arturo's childhood dreams.

When a villager asks Arturo for help, he attempts the impossible. He will prove that Bravadori can be noble and selfless. With the help of an outcast and fallen legend, he'll try to save the distant village.

I'm thoroughly impressed with this book. It has it all: great, flawed characters, fantastic setting, and great world-building. It's a book about heroes, loss, and redemption. There was one character, in particular, I wanted to shake and slap who's managed to gain my respect in the end. The other two, I cared for them since the beginning.

Supporting characters were strong and memorable. Main characters' development was believable and genuinely touching. Each of them will surprise you more than once.

The writing is superb. Patrick's prose is easily accessible and while I wouldn't describe it as lyrical it does the trick and allows to feel characters' emotions and imagine the vibrant world he's created.

Long story short - it's Patrick's best book. It's also one of the best indie books I've ever read. It does everything I like in fantasy well - it combines myths, quest-like adventure, and redemption of flawed heroes as well as tales within the tales.

Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is engaging, immersive and touching. It's a book I'll re-read with pleasure and it's not something I say often. I crave more Yarnsworld stories.

Good news is From the Shadows of the Owl Queen's Court should be published this year.

[Esme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that caught my attention right away, which is a rare thing for me. It typically takes me about 20% to start to get into a book and begin feeling invested. I was at that point around 5% for Brave Foolish Souls. The world building was exciting and atmospheric and helped immerse me into the story quickly. This is a city dominated by rivaling groups of masked swordsmen, they’re known as the Bravadori and are renown for their skill and lethality. All of the Bravadori masks are based around an animal, and their names coincide with what mask they were. The Galloping Turtle, the Crazy Racoon, the Preening Owl etc, each of the masks are highly decorative and colorful which creates a vibrant and surreal scene.

Arturo, one of the main characters, has traveled to the City of Swords based on dreams and hearsay. He believes the Bravadori to be a group that defends the weak, protects those that can’t protect themselves, and are part of the Queen’s retinue. They are supposed to work as an assurance that someone out there will protect the people and behave in an honorable fashion. Arturo wants to be a Bravadori but he doesn’t exactly have the persona of one you’d expect to join their ranks. He ducks for cover the first time he encounters them, hiding under a tomato stand watching them fight, debating whether he should approach them or not. Although he does have a Knack that slows down time and allows him to see what people are going to do, (very useful for fighting) he is very timid when it comes to approaching the Bravadori. When he finally does, things don’t go as well as he hoped – he’s laughed off every time, and his moniker changed from Hungry Wolf to Starving Pup.

He slowly realizes after coming to the city that the Bravadori function more like gangs, challenging each other over territory and slights to each other’s members. They maim each other and occasionally kill each other as well, although death isn’t typically desired outcome. They don’t fight for honor, or the weak, or to help protect people. They fight for their own interests in order to gain a reputation and accumulate wealth.

A man from The Wilds comes to the city seeking aid, he had also heard tales of heroes living the City of Swords and hopes he can recruit them to help his village. But, when he arrives he’s bluntly told no one will be helping him. That is until he runs into Arturo. Arturo doesn’t just decide to help, but he tries to guilt the other Bravadori into remembering their roots and coming to the aid of people who need it. That doesn’t go well either.

Arturo was my favorite, but there are other memorable POV’s in this as well. Yizel is a Shaven, someone who has lost her Mask as a Bravadori and is largely shunned by the rest of society. There are places she can’t go, and if she doesn’t shave her head herself, others will pin her down and do it for her. She’s been working as a hired sword for the Mouse clan and has a few missteps, including killing someone from the rivaling clan. She’s on thin ice, but she needs the money so she can survive. The Crazy Racoon is sort of a wild card who belongs to the Paw clan, he’s used as a scare tactic and due to his reputation, most flee before even trying to fight him. He’s a barely contained murder machine that is far too gleeful at the thought of murdering people.

The writing and pacing for this were fantastic. There was a bit of head-hopping at the beginning, within the first 10% there were already 3 POV’s, but it didn’t slow me down because I found them all to be fascinating. This author tends to writer shorter to medium length books and manages to pack a lot inside them. Words aren’t wasted and everything has a purpose which also helps speed things along. Like in previous books, this one has interludes that are mini-stories within the story, and like in earlier books I absolutely loved these side stories. It’s such a creative way to do what is essentially an info dump about the world, but make it so damn entertaining and different that it just works, and works well.

You don’t have to have read the other books in the series to understand what’s going on, the entire series is meant to be stand-alone, but once you get attached to this world it’s really neat seeing it over and over again from different perspectives.

Overall, I loved this one, this could be my favorite book in the series so far and I’m so excited to read the next one. This has a lot of parallels with other stories that revolve around meeting your heroes. About expectations that weren’t met and dreams that seem farther away than ever. It never fails to get me because I’ve had a few of those moments myself and it was pretty heartbreaking.

Audience:

multi pov
sword fighting
magic use
mexican culture
atmospheric writing
fast paced stories

Ratings:

Plot: 13/15
Characters: 14/15
World Building: 14/15
Writing: 13/15
Pacing: 13/15
Originality: 14/15
Personal Enjoyment: 10/10

Final Score: 91/100 – 5 stars highly recommended!

[Anindita, A Bohemian Mind at Work · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a while since I have read fantasy, a pure fantasy book. I am glad I picked this one.

Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is the tale of disenchantment, redemption, and realisation. The characters are different from each other in the most apparent of ways yet share a few unexplored similarities. They are linked to each other in unexpected but opportune moments.

Arturo/Starving Pup is an idealistic young man seeking glory in the company of Bravadoris, legendary warriors who are known for their might and courage. Word of mouth has given rise to the myth of their great hearts, and our young aspiring hero wants to share that greatness. Coming from a privileged background, Arturo had practically taught himself the art of sword fighting, and despite his secure future and his family’s lack of faith in his ambition, he sets off to Espadapan, the city of the legendary swordsmen called Bravadori.

Bravadoris turn out to be nothing but bullies who waste their time fighting each other instead of slaying monsters or making daring rescues. Arturo keeps making himself think there is some residual sense of honour and chivalry in the supposed heroes and takes a farmer seeking assistance to them. He desires the fame of a hero and realisation is the gift he receives for all his effort.

Yizel, a shaven-head (yes) Shavan, is a miserable woman who lives on scraps of filthy jobs thrown unto her by Bravadoris, becomes Arturo’s most reliable ally by saving his life when the brave Bravadoris leave him for dead. She is highly inspired by Arturo’s heartfelt speech on duties and responsibilities of a warrior and volunteers her sword feeling the pride of doing some good without the lure of money for once. Her secret of shame and heartbreak his hers to bear and she has long accepted her fate. She seeks redemption.

Crazy Raccoon, a disgraced and hence disgruntled Bravadori, is the last one to join the company. He is in because he wants to create a legend for himself, so his people are forced to take him back. He has a secret he needs to cover up again with some fantastic tale of valour to modify the memories of his kin who have shunned him in his weakest moment by betrayal and mockery. He craves for false glory and retribution.

So, a fake hero and a warrior of tarnished repute ride on the young Arturo’s utopia and begin the journey of adventure, quests, and nearly mortal combats with creatures of darkness, fantasy, and myth. Most Bravadori have ‘knacks’ or special magical ability that enhance their skill in combat. Part of the book shows flashbacks revealing each one’s knack.

This crazy company travels to the Wildlands with a farmer to assist the village in thwarting bandit attack and come across Cadejo/demon dog, the Black Shepherdess with her ash-zombie army, and almost near the creepy many-mouthed Mistress, Goddess worshipped by the Wildland people.

The story, very much like the main characters, is made of flesh and blood and tears. You dream with them, feel their pain, and burn in shame and impotent rage, as you walk beside them hurt, shunned, and mocked by the very people who are expected to protect you. Arturo’s broken faith, Yizel’s longing for lost glory, Crazy Raccoon’s schemes of securing his future, are as real as fantastic is the demon dog, the ash-monsters, and the Mistress of the Wilds.

The best-written scenes are encounters with the monsters. I enjoyed the vivid imagery (check out the paragraph where a rising storm of dust is described and the very cinematic climax) and a modern prose. I found the use of swear-words by the foul-mouthed characters essential and admirably appropriate (I am so polite!).

What left me whining was a particular point when the battle was at its peak, and I was about to fall off my chair out of an anxiety attack, another piece of legend came up. As excellent were each of the short legends/lore, this one ticked me off for a minute. What did impress me was how quickly the pace and tone were picked up right after. I loved each of the shorts on myths of Bravadori, history of ash-monsters, flashbacks of our heroes, and the overall mix of the timeline that never lost clarity in the process. POV shifts were smooth, and the overlaps gave us interesting insight and angles on the main storyline. The pace change was comfortable, interluding the action-heavy scenes with tales of the old never taxing the reader.

Did I mention what a fast read this one is?

If you like the good old combination of myth, lore, quest-like adventure in your fantasy with dark human nature that reflects in Gods and monsters alike, and you think you can appreciate seeing farmers braver than heroes, heroes weaker than those who look up to them, this is your book. Tales within a tale with artful storytelling, the rich imagery of setting, and excellent characterisation makes Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords one of the best written and well-presented independently published fantasy books I have read.

Look at the gorgeous cover! Oh, I heard Mr Patrick reading an excerpt from his books in a video and have become a fan of his voice. Do check them out on his website. You can find him on Twitter.

If I have noticed any minor grammar issues (can’t specify honestly), I believe might have been changed by now as I had borrowed the book from Kindle Unlimited the very day I received the newsletter announcement for publication.

For more reviews: http://bohomind.com/

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There once was a wordsmith called 'Patrick'
Whose writing inspired this here limerick
Took some lore from some folks
Added some careful strokes
Built a world of them yarns with his magic
­
If your aim’s to be branded a 'hero',
To the city Espadapan you ought to go--
Wave a sword with some flair
Don a mask if you dare
Join a great house where your skills can grow

If you wish to go strut like a peacock
Be a bigwig none ever dare mock
Join the famed Bravadori
Before whom others scurry
They’re a fearsome old group, do take stock

Green Arturo set forth for Espadapan
Left his home for this hallowed and promised land
He so wants to be famous
Brave, intrepid and fabulous
But things often don't go as you plan

Bravadori possess verve and style
But they've done no good deeds for a while
They do have tres cool names
And their flashy sword games
So the townsfolk they still can beguile.

Enter Bravador Crazy Raccoon
Not much more than a simple buffoon
Really just a poseur
And a skilled raconteur
Wanting all folks who meet him to swoon

Have I mentioned poor, young Yizel?
At the Bravador ball she used to be belle
But betrayed Yizel was
By a friend she did trust
Now her life is a day to day hell

What a mismatched sad trio they make
With the fate of a village at stake
They will either find amity
Or sow much more enmity
In the end they may find only heartache

The foe they must face is formidable
Its magic and vitriol nigh indomitable
But find strength our three must
Or they'll all turn to dust
Contemplating defeat is unthinkable

In some stories you get likely heroes
With all skill, craft and knack of the cosmos
But some buckles don't swash
Not all saviours are posh
Save some cheer for improbable honchos

Though a soul be oft foolish and witless
It can withal be brave, even dauntless
Given just half a chance
To go lead in the dance
They may knock on the door of such greatness

By splicing adventure with legend and myth
Our yarn spinner shows that they're kin and kith
How forgotten old tales
Leave indelible trails
So best heed all their lessons forthwith

I have read all three books in the series thus far
With each book Patrick manages to raise the bar
Fascinating and joyous
Each one even more wondrous
I will herald these books near and far.

[Liis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s face it, any good story has a good dose of corrupted cream of the crop, high ambitions by the already successful and the shunned, and easily discernible character development. TBFSftCoS has all of that PLUS the wonderful addition of folktale element which adds so much richness to the already wonderful fantasy story being told.

Flowers of ash were falling from the dark indents that were the creature’s eyes. The flowers fell every time the creature sobbed. For – and the farmer had known this as soon as his wife had crumbled to dust – it was the Black Shepherdess who had come to visit him that night.

TBFSftCoS is a novel that holds many qualities- a fantastic storytelling (and Patrick has been solid in his writing from book 1 through to book 3 in the Yarnsworld series), great cast of characters and worldbuilding, inspired by the many unique corners of our world to rival the many loved fantasy titles across the globe. Eloquent swordfight/action scenes, eerie moments worthy and demanding of a campfire and characters entirely too human in the ways they err.

This book explores the world of Bravadori in the city of Espadapan and the wild folk in the surrounding Wildlands. The background for both is entirely too rich to be able to give you a brief summary without ruining your future reading experience. The only thing I would say is that there is a clash of the ‘old ways’ with the ‘new’ causing a shift in religion, culture and ways of life.

Our tale begins in the early days, when the Muridae had first come to the Wilds. Those brave travellers has stepped off their boats, amazed at the vastness of the new lands they had discovered for their Queen. Imagine their surprise when they discovered a people already living in these lands, claiming it as their own.

The Bravadori, I would say, are like Musketeers. Except the Musketeers are actually, you know, nice, whereas Bravadori all seem to be equally and altogether too arrogant to deserve their high standings in the society. But as I said in the beginning- every good story has it’s fair share of corruption and egotistical goals. The Bravadori were not always thugs, though… Those living further away from Espadapan have heard great tales about some Bravadori legends like El Elephante, Silent Sparrow or Roaming Iguana…

*yep, there are a lot of funky names in this story!*

Arturo, having discovered his knack for swordfighting, has travelled to Espadapan to join the Bravadori and prove himself to his family. His innocence and naivety is met with a different world than what he expected. Especially when he fails to provoke any stable of various Bravadori to offer aid to a village out in the wild being attacked by bandits.

*fyi, if you have not yet heard or read of the Yarnsworld series, then knacks are one of the underlying themes. A knack is something that any character develops during their lifetime, be it fighting, cooking, smithing, singing, etc. Finding one’s knack is like finding a reason to live.*

Arturo’s path crosses with Yizel who is a Shaven (a shunned Bravador) and Crazy Raccoon (one of the most feared Bravador’s out there). Through unexpected circumstances, the three characters end up clashing and brought together on a risky journey. A journey which tests everyone’s steely nerves, a journey for which each of the characters envisions a self-serving outcome, a journey which takes a more deadlier turn that any of them ever expected.

It is not often Crazy Raccoon got to see something like that, to see hope die so clearly on someone’s face. It wasn’t dissimilar to the moment when someone’s soul left their body after being impaled on the end of a sword.

Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is not only a standalone novel in the Yarnsworld series, it completely stands apart from Patrick’s previous novels (even though each of the 3 books this far are equally epic in their own right!) with the grittier, more foulmouthed tone. It’s not overdone by any means… Instead, it’s a treat for any fantasy lover who enjoys a good curse and a slightly more grim, morbid reading experience.

It only takes dedication and a pure heart to achieve something amazing.

I can easily, without any hesitation recommend all and any of the books in the Yarnsworld series by Benedict Patrick. I promise you, you will be swept away by the engaging storytelling and the arresting folktales that pepper each and every book and … ‘Queen’s tits‘, I cannot wait to see where Patrick will take me next with his stories…

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review is here, on my blog.

Guys. Guuuuys. I think this is my favorite in the whole series so far. Such a good story!

I love that these are short. They’re certainly novel length, but they stand alone and encompass their whole story in what (for me) ends up being a nice, lazy Sunday afternoon of reading. I love a book I can finish in a day. I love longer ones as well, but I prefer getting as much story into me in one sitting as possible.

Enter the Yarnsworld, a world of folktales come to life. This time we’re in the city of Espadapan, the City of Swords, home of the Bravadori. The setting of this one is… well, it’s pretty much Mexico, though it is hard to quantify exactly. I thought Spain at first (because Espadapan sounds Spanish AF), but no. Definitely more Mexico/Central America. Really wonderfully put together world here. The Bravadori are fencers, and they wear masks which they decorate based on their exploits or their special Bravadori names, like Crazy Raccoon, Sinister Crow, Preening Owl, and the like. It gave me the image of luchadores, rather than Zorro, even despite these masks being clearly described as domino masks, and the idea of the Bravadori being very Zorro-esque. They are men (and women- seemingly equally, so that was awesome) who have the Yarnsworld’s trademark Knacks for swordplay. They are tasked with protecting the innocent from the monsters that live in the area, like chupacabra and cadejo, as well as bandits and other rabble.

Except they don’t… really do that anymore. Not like the stories say they should. Now, Espadapan is more or less a city full of master fencers who lord themselves over everyone else and publicly brawl in the streets. Arturo, our main character, and a young man from outside the city who has his Knack and has dreamed his whole life of being a Bravador, unpleasantly finds out the truth of the situation not too far into his time within the city. But, it turns out that someone *does* need his help, and godsdammit, he’s going to go be the Bravador he always wanted to be. Adventures are had!~ Bonkers adventures in the Wilds of the Yarnsworld with all kinds of folklore on their tails!

This volume had way more swearing and crude humour in it than previous volumes (as it is quite different from other volumes), and I thought that it absolutely worked. Given the subject matter (a bunch of badass swordsmen being badass), I would expect more swearing and crassness from at least some of them. So, while some people are probably going to eventually point this out to complain about it, let me point it out to say: FUCKING FUCK YES! 👍 I APPRECIATE SOME NUNS WHO MAKE MISSIONARY JOKES.

It was fabulously written, full of awesome characters, twists and turns, and like all the other Yarnworld books, a short folktale in between chapters that sets up bits of the story. It was a great addition to the series. I also love that one particular character makes a small but noticeable cameo here (and in Where the Waters Turn Black), and I thought it was an awesome nod.

[Aidan Hennessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling, swashbuckling tale of action that deconstructs the archetype of the brave swordsman, this story examines the nature of honour and courage, and whether true bravery is doing the right thing even if no one would ever know of your heroism.

Highly recommended.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For me this was a strong 4 star book, perhaps even a 4.5/5. This is the third book in the Yarnsworld series, but it is a self-contained novel which can be read on its own. Each of the books in the Yarnsworld series are able to be read independently and are significantly different from each other in setting and mood.

The threads of commonality within the Yarnsworld books are three things I really enjoy: the inspiration from folktales/fairy-tales and the world-building the author achieves through inserting his own folktales or fairy-tales between the chapters of each book, the idea of Knacks or special talents for things that can range from cooking to music to sword-fighting that are developed through devotion to that craft, and that each book tells a story of finding your own identity despite vastly different settings and plot lines.

I also want to note here that I think the author's dialogue and creation of relatable characters has improved markedly with each book and in this book it is particularly engaging. He also got pretty creative with the in-universe swearing this time around, which I loved.

Setting: A good portion of this book takes place in the streets and snickleways (love that word) of Espadapan, a sort of Spanish-inspired city famous for its Bravadori, or sword-fighters. Later in the book our hero journeys through a rather desert feeling wild area to a small farming town called Calvario. Much of the world explored in this novel has a very Spanish/Mexican feeling to it, which is intentional as the folklore inspiration for this book is drawn from Mexican folklore.

Characters: Our protagonist is Arturo, a young, starry-eyed idealist who desperately wants to become one of the famous Bravadori who he has looked up to from hearing years of campfire stories about the exploits of the famous Bravadori of the past. Another notable character is the very memorable Gavrilla, a surprisingly foul-mouthed nun, who we meet early on when Arturo gets to Espadapan. I'm sincerely hoping Gavrilla writes herself a sequel at some point! The other characters we spend a lot of time with are Yizel, who was once a Bravadori but is now a Shaven (disgraced Bravadori) and Crazy Raccoon, a Bravadori with such a towering reputation that noone could live up to it (not even Crazy Raccoon). Lastly, we also meet Tomas, a farmer from far away Calvario.

Plot: Arturo, our idealistic protagonist travels to Espadapan to try to become one of the famous Bravadori. Unfortunately, as the reader finds out pretty quickly, the Bravadori currently in Espadapan in no way live up to Arturo's ideals or to the campfire tales told of their bravery and exploits. After several disappointing run-ins with the Bravadori, Arturo ends up injured and Yizel, a disgraced Bravadori, ends up taking care of him, for a price. Arturo then runs into Tomas, a farmer from a small town called Calvario, who has come to Espadapan to try to recruit Bravadori to save Calvario from a band of bandits that are slowly killing the townspeople. Arturo, Yizel, Tomas, and Crazy Raccoon, a Bravadori who is having trouble backing up his towering reputation, all journey to Calvario to try to save it from the bandits. Along the way they face dangers and when they get there they discover the situation is even more dire than Tomas thought. In addition to all of these adventures, there's also an interesting plotline about the indigenous religion and the sacrifices needed to placate the Mistress of the Wilds, and the new religion more prevalent in the cities than in the Wilds.

Recommended For: Anyone who likes fairytale inspired books that are not necessarily just fairytale retellings! I also like the more unusual settings the author is using, this time with a sort of Mexico-inspired setting. This is also great for anyone who loves the Three Musketeers and might like a twist on the story. And, lastly, if you liked Puss in Boots and Kitty Softpaws from the Shrek movies, you might need to check this out!

[Anindita, A Bohemian Mind at Work · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is the tale of disenchantment, redemption, and realisation.

Arturo/Starving Pup is an idealistic young man seeking glory in the company of Bravadoris, legendary warriors who are known for their might and courage. Word of mouth has given rise to the myth of their great hearts, and our young aspiring hero wants to share that greatness. Coming from a privileged background, Arturo had practically taught himself the art of sword fighting, and despite his secure future and his family's lack of faith in his ambition, he sets off to Espadapan, the city of the legendary swordsmen called Bravadori.

Bravadoris turn out to be nothing but bullies who waste their time fighting each other instead of slaying monsters or making daring rescues. Arturo keeps making himself think there is some residual sense of honour and chivalry in the supposed heroes and takes a farmer seeking assistance to them. He desires the fame of a hero and realisation is the gift he receives for all his effort.

Yizel, a shaven-head (yes) Shavan, is a miserable woman who lives on scraps of filthy jobs thrown unto her by Bravadoris, becomes Arturo's most reliable ally by saving his life when the brave Bravadoris leave him for dead. She is highly inspired by Arturo's heartfelt speech on duties and responsibilities of a warrior and volunteers her sword feeling the pride of doing some good without the lure of money for once. Her secret of shame and heartbreak his hers to bear and she has long accepted her fate. She seeks redemption.

Crazy Raccoon, a disgraced and hence disgruntled Bravadori, is the last one to join the company. He is in because he wants to create a legend for himself, so his people are forced to take him back. He has a secret he needs to cover up again with some fantastic tale of valour to modify the memories of his kin who have shunned him in his weakest moment by betrayal and mockery. He craves for false glory and retribution.

So, a fake hero and a warrior of tarnished repute ride on the young Arturo's utopia and begin the journey of adventure, quests, and nearly mortal combats with creatures of darkness, fantasy, and myth. Most Bravadori have 'knacks' or special magical ability that enhance their skill in combat. Part of the book shows flashbacks revealing each one's knack.

This crazy company travels to the Wildlands with a farmer to assist the village in thwarting bandit attack and come across Cadejo/demon dog, the Black Shepherdess with her ash-zombie army, and almost near the creepy many-mouthed Mistress, Goddess worshipped by the Wildland people.

The story, very much like the main characters, is made of flesh and blood and tears. You dream with them, feel their pain, and burn in shame and impotent rage, as you walk beside them hurt, shunned, and mocked by the very people who are expected to protect you.  Arturo's broken faith, Yizel's longing for lost glory, Crazy Raccoon's schemes of securing his future, are as real as fantastic is the demon dog, the ash-monsters, and the Mistress of the Wilds.

The best-written scenes are encounters with the monsters. I enjoyed the vivid imagery (check out the paragraph where a rising storm of dust is described and the very cinematic climax) and a modern prose. I found the use of swear-words by the foul-mouthed characters essential and admirably appropriate (I am so polite!).

What left me whining was a particular point when the battle was at its peak, and I was about to fall off my chair out of an anxiety attack, another piece of legend came up. As excellent were each of the short legends/lore, this one ticked me off for a minute. What did impress me was how quickly the pace and tone were picked up right after. I loved each of the shorts on myths of Bravadori, history of ash-monsters, flashbacks of our heroes, and the overall mix of the timeline that never lost clarity in the process. POV shifts were smooth, and the overlaps gave us interesting insight and angles on the main storyline. The pace change was comfortable, interluding the action-heavy scenes with tales of the old never taxing the reader.

Did I mention what a fast read this one is?

Look at the gorgeous cover!
This review and more: http://bohomind.com/brave-foolish-sou...

[Rebekah Teller · Rating 5 out of 5]

We follow the adventures of Arturo, a young warrior who wants to build a name for himself as a hero in Espadapan, the City of Swords. There's a long oral history of heroic, masked swordfighters and their impressive feats. Shortly after arriving, Arturo realizes he must find his own way to help others or succumb to a culture of bravado and greed.

When a villager from the Wildlands comes seeking help, Arturo decides the only way to make his own legend is to leave the City of Swords and genuinely seek to help others. He manages to draw a couple more warriors with him, and together they head out to save a small village and defeat the bandits harassing them.

Naturally, by the time they arrive at the village and scope out the nearby bandits, there's much more to the story. Their success seems hopeless, yet the fate of an entire village is at stake. Will this small, unlikely band of heroes find the courage to fight? Should they even try to live up to the old, legendary tales? At what point does bravery become foolishness?

In between chapters we are given short folktales that flesh out the culture and add to the story in progress. It's a wonderful way to bring richness to the reading experience. The world building is based on Mexican history and legends, set partly in a city and partly in the wilderness. A juxtaposition of old and new religions also plays a part as the story unfolds.

I so enjoyed this book! It's fun, daring, and meaningful. If you like swashbuckling heroics mixed with original mythology, definitely check this one out!

[Marielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of the Yarnsworld books finished, and yet again I have a new favorite.
This third book deals with honour, courage and redemption. I love how complete the characters felt and how I loved them, despite their flaws and the mistakes they make.
My reading slump is completely gone thanks to Yarnsworld!

[L.L. MacRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when things are not what they seem - especially in a negative way. It might sound kind of counter intuitive, but I like to see “this is how things have always been” shown for what they really are (no matter how dark), and broken down. The truth will out!

This story has a very different tone to all the other Yarnsworld books. It was almost off-putting at the start, because it’s so different from what I had come to expect, but it does a great job of helping to set the tone. Of showcasing who these characters are, what is important to them, and overall worldbuilding.

It takes place in the city of Espadapan and in the surrounding Wilds, and it couldn’t be further from the Cresent Atol or the Magpie King’s Forest if it tried. It’s certainly in the shared universe, with plenty of crossover elements, but it is a completely separate story that holds its own.

Although there are many characters, the three most prominent are Arturo, a somewhat wet-behind-the ears youth who comes to the City of Swords (called Espadapan), driven by hopes and dreams. He wishes to join the famed Bravadori - skilled swords people who fight for the queen, protect the city, and are distinguished from the rest of the populace by various animal masks.

The second is Crazy Racoon, one of the said bravadori - in fact a legend among them. As befitting celebrities, Crazy Racoon is pompous, arrogant, aggressive, rude, and full of insecurities. He has done despicable things and does plenty more during the book, yet through his POV chapters we come to understand and even sympathise with him.

The third is Yizel, a shamed bravadori referred to as a Shaven (for obvious reasons). She was by far my favourite character.

All three characters cross paths and end up on a sort of mission to help a man from The Wilds, though they each have their own reasons for doing so. Throw in some typical Yarnsworld magic, beasts, curses, and general darkness, and you have a recipe for another superb fantasy read.

There are so many themes in this book. Redemption. Honour. Bravery. Doing what’s right. Altruism vs. selfishness. But none of these are ever too on-the-nose. It’s always subtle, in keeping with characters or the world.

Benedict Patrick is a fantastic storyteller. I’ve now binged all the available Yarnsworld books on audio (the narrator, Derek Perkins, is superb in every book) with good reason. He masterfully blends legends, folklore, fantasy, mythology, epic characters, incredible world building, and well-written, brilliantly-paced plots. There are plenty of twists and turns, action sequences, battles, moments of tension and extreme stress. If you want a quick, edge-of-your-seat read that’s not the “norm” for fantasy, pick up this book.

Then pick up the other Yarnsworld books.

All in all, another superb five star read.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all of literature, particularly fantasy, there are heroes and they come in all shapes and sizes.  There are those that aspire to be heroes, seek adventure and become embroiled in dangerous situations.  There are those that have situations thrust upon them and those that are along for the ride

Arturo is an aspiring hero is who we first meet in “Those foolish souls from the city of sword” book three in the Yarnsworld series by Benedict Patrick and I am saying now, this has been one of my favourites reads this year in a series that I would urge you to read.

Here is the premise: Don't draw your blade in the City of Swords, unless you're willing to kill… or ready to die.

Young and filled with idealistic fervor, Arturo packs his blade and travels to the fabled City of Swords in the hopes of joining the dashing Bravadori. Yet upon arriving he discovers these masked vigilantes have more in common with brutal thugs than noble monster slayers. Disillusioned and mocked, he stubbornly refuses to give up his dreams.

When an impending bandit attack threatens untold depravities upon a distant village, and no others will heed the call for help, Arturo joins forces with a worthless outcast and a walking legend to attempt the impossible, to traverse the demon-haunted wilderness and prove that in the City of Swords, true heroes can rise from the unlikeliest of places.

This is the third book in the Yarnsworld series by Benedict Patrick and it is by far my favourite.  It is in many ways the story of someone wanting to be a hero and wishing for it, this is true of many of the characters you will meet, from Arturo to Crazy Raccoon and the “Shaven”.  These three are given the opportunity they all want: to be heroes throughout the course of the book and show the world, an each other what they can do.

The world they inhabit is a sinister place, much like the rest of the Yarnsworld, outside the safe places it is dangerous, in this case it is the Wilds that people are afraid of, they have good reason to be.  All my reviews are spoiler free so I will not be revealing what is haunting the Wilds, because it is so awesome when it is revealed, it is really one epic moment and Benedict writes this scene so well.

As I mentioned, this is my favourite story of the Yarnsworld why?  It really does show that you shouldn’t meet your heroes and also what it means to be a hero and the value of choice as well.  Arturo is a character you will come to love, his decisions, will pull you along a story of real depth and charisma. It is a story of discovery of well and I can't say to much about this because it will spoil the story but it will be a surprising part for you.

Last but least is the Folklore, this always features heavily in Benedict’s stories with the alternate chapters and they play an important part in this story, again it would spoil the story but I love the story of the Mouse Queen.

This is one fantastic read, totally stand alone so you can read this story whenever you like that is the beauty of the stories in the Yarnsworld.

[Timandra Whitecastle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Yarnsworld. I enjoyed They Mostly Come Out At Night, and I was blown away by Where the Waters Turn Black (which you MUST read!). And so it was no big surprise that I loved this new tale from the Yarnsworld.

So here we are in "Calavera" (*edited to note: that's not the name of the city. I'm referring to a sorta Mexican kinda feel). There are cities with masked bravadori - knocked swordfighters all -where honor and reputation await, and tempers are quickly roused (and sometimes the fighters are just plain crazy like the Squirrels).

And it is here where our hero Arturo enters the ring eagerly, only to be cast to the ground. But the thing with the truly brave is that they always rise, dust themselves off, and get back into the fray. This is what all 3 POV characters must learn throughout the narrative of this story.

As is quickly becoming his trademark, Benedict Patrick manages to make his world shine all the more through the little stories that are interwoven throughout the main storyline. And I, for one, hope he never stops this beautiful feature!

And can I just mention that there's a female character in this tale who is a bit broken in spirit, but is easily the best swordfighter of them all, and while she and Arturo bond, there's NO romance? It's like he sees her as his equal (in regards to the swordfighting he even knows that she's better than him) and his respected friend? I wish we'd see more of that in Fantasy.

This book is darker in tone than WTWTB was, and has explicit language which may not appeal to everyone (though I certainly enjoy the f**k out of it). It has great characters, great pacing, swordfighting and snark fights.

It has heart. So, go and read it already!

[kartik narayanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit

Rarely in the stories did mortals fare well when concerning themselves with the affairs of gods and monsters.

Introduction
The Yarnsworld series , written by Benedick Patrick, consists of three books so far. These are ‘They Mostly Come Out At Night’, ‘Where the Waters Turn Black’ and ‘Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords’.

Yarnsworld is difficult to describe in terms of conventional genres. Some of the books are very dark while others are not. Merely putting a tag like ‘fantasy’ or ‘horror’ does not do enough justice to these stories. If I am forced to at gunpoint, I will describe these books as fairy tales for adults. In addition, the book share two common elements. The first is a shared universe with mere hints and not something that is forced down our throat. The second is an interesting structure where the main story-line mixes with smaller tales which add to the world being built.

That said, they are also wildly different in terms of outlook, themes and story-lines. ‘They Mostly Come Out at Night’ is a grim retelling of the ugly duckling with the overarching theme of self-sacrifice. ‘Where the Waters Turn Black’ explores friendship and going beyond traditional boundaries. It could easily be the next Pixar movie (if they had not done Moana). ‘Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords’ is Seven Samurai-like, gritty and is about heroism, redemption and revenge.

Read the full review at my site Digital Amrit

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this intricate, full of "fairy-tales" world Benedict created.
All three novels share the same whimsical effect, dark, twisted yet enchanting at the same time.
I wrongly assumed this would be my least favourite of the three due to the focus on Sword fighting but Starving Pup's bravery, Yizel's kindness and Crazy Raccoon's pride made for a very compelling read.


All the novels are unique, charming reads,I really recommend them.

[Filip · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find a video version of this review here, with meme-ish moments galore, huzzah!

My history with the Yarnsworld is one of deep adoration and what some might describe as moral insanity. Yes, reader, I have completely and pitilessly butchered the chronological/publication order of Benedict Patrick’s wonderful Yarnsworld books. I read the first, then followed it with the fourth, which was just about to come out when I first discovered the series. After that, Benedict asked me to beta-read for him, and I did that with the fifth Yarnsworld novel and several other of his projects (The Darkstar series is portal maritime fantasy like you’ve never seen!). Yet, somehow, I utterly disregarded two of his earlier Yarnsworld books.

Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is the one I always knew I’d get to. Something about the title speaks to me. It makes an eloquent promise which Patrick delivers on with a deft swipe of the pen (or several million keystrokes, whichever one seems more likely).

I took on the City of Swords in the audiobook format. Derek Perkins does excellent work here, his grave and stately voice as narrator shifts every which way as he breathes life into the myriad characters that populate Patrick’s novel.

The City of Swords, also known as Espadapan, is home to the Bravadori. Legend portrays them as heroic sword-fighters in the vein of Zorro; reality renders them as glorified thugs and bandits. Rather than the honourable and noble Queen’s Protectors they’re supposed to be, the Bravadori are violent (if exceptionally skilled) individuals gathered up in stables–criminal gangs in truth, battling for supremacy, stopping only short of murder…most of the time. The novel opens with our first protagonist, Arturo, at last arriving in Espadapan to join what he sees as a brotherhood of heroes and defenders of all things good and right in the world. That doesn’t go as well as you’d like to think it would. Arturo witnesses a full night’s fierce combat between the top stables in Espadapan, his hope to take part quickly dashed by fear. So begins a long and arduous journey towards realigning the heroes of legend with the flesh-and-blood people who wear Bravadori masks and wield Bravadori blades.

Alongside the many Bravadori who hold bloody battle during Arturo’s first night in the City of Swords is Yizel. Yizel is one of the Shaven, combatants infamous for their honourless ways. They were Bravadori too, once, before they committed a crime foul enough that saw them unmasked and thrust out from the life of pampered comfort and luxury the Bravadori lead. Her journey is one of redemption and heroism, inspired by the idealism of none other than Arturo…after a fashion.

Our third protagonist is Crazy Raccoon. This Bravador encapsulates the distance between the legend and the reality of Espadapan’s blade-masters. The man with the fiercest reputation in all the City of Swords, Crazy Raccoon’s turns of fortune c0me one after the other with breakneck speed.

The three make quite the unlikely bedfellows–and much blood will be spilled before there is an honest reckoning between them. Off on a quest to defend a small village from scores of bandits, Arturo, Yizel, and Crazy Raccoon will have to re-examine their biases and deeply held prejudices and get over themselves if they are to survive. Sword action galore! And if bandits don’t seem a scary enough threat for you, don’t worry–the forests and wildernesses of the Yarnsworld are replete with monsters.

There’s a path to return to these characters, and I certainly hope Benedict decides to do so. I’ve grown very fond indeed of Arturo, Yizel, and Crazy Raccoon–each of the three has completed their character arc in ways that refute the societal norms Benedict has created in this corner of his Yarnsworld. Yet each of the three has demons yet unconquered, and the conclusion to this novel certainly shows there is yet more work to be done. Nothing that takes away from the standalone nature of this read; but the possibility of another adventure with this unlikely trio at the centre of it appeals to me, no question about it.

As is the way of the Yarnsworld books, Benedict Patrick tells vignettes from the world–myths, legends, the stories behind the legends. Though they start off reading as little more than standalones, these always have a motif that becomes more and more evident the further you read. By the end, these interludes come together into an engaging mosaic that connects to the conflict at the core of the novel.

Also, I love this title so much. Ever since I first came across it some six-seven years ago, I’ve been riffing on it. In D&D sessions; in the shower where no one is supposed to hear but my nosy neighbour inevitably does; and that one time I was supposed to give a presentation in front of half my year at uni. It’s a problem how deeply embedded this title has become in my mind is what I’m saying.

You’ll enjoy this novel if:

-You fancy high-octane sword-fighting action;
-You have a thing for characters with complex inner lives that clash with the personas they project;
-You love folklore based on non-European mythos and cultures–this one is heavily Mexican-inspired;
-And more! Prob’ly.

I can’t recommend this one enough, folks – it’s an absolute delight you’ll blaze through, if you only take a chance on it!

[Alex Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant adventure that drags you with it every step of the way.

With his Yarnsworld series (They Mostly Come Out At Night and Where the Waters Turn Black) Benedict Patrick is cementing himself as one of my favourite authors and this book is no exception. If you enjoyed either of those two books you should get this one, if you haven’t tried them, then get them quick!

This time we are brought to a fresh setting heavily inspired by Central American folklore and culture and we head on an adventure with Arturo who has come to Espadapan, the City of Swords, to make himself a Bravadori - one of the legendary swordfighters that defend the city against the perils of the Wilds.

Or at least that’s what the stories say.

When he arrives the sword-fighters he finds are more like vigilante gangs than noble protectors. Disappointed, but not dissuaded, Arturo nevertheless begins his own quest to become a noble Bravadori.

We also follow Yizel, a disgraced Bravadori, and Crazy Raccoon, a Bravadori so feared that he doesn’t even have to draw his sword and his enemies flee. Their stories interweave and send us beyond the city limits into the Wilds but I won’t say any more than that for this review!

The writing is as strong as ever and, although once or twice there was a phrase that felt like it was repeated, it really grips you from the first chapter and in very short time you’re cheering the characters on. The three main characters are all well fleshed out and I would say that none of them are quite what you’re expecting as the author twists the archetypes to make the characters intriguing and different.

There’s plenty of strong supporting characters outside of the three point-of-view characters and the setting is vibrant and fleshed out, especially as we some more of the wonderful fairytale style stories sandwiched between every chapter.

At its heart this feels like an old school adventure that Zorro would be proud of with a healthy helping of monsters. I really love that we’ve come into this setting to explore a whole different kind of culture that values completely different Knacks than the ones we’ve seen before and similarly to the end of Where the Waters Turn Black this sets itself up for future adventures which I am very excited about.

If you’re looking for a new adventure, you’ve found it.

It’s really, properly fun.

[Terrible Timy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange of a honest review

The full review with some extras as usual can be found on my blog!

Arturo just arrived to the city Espadapan, with the intention of joining the Bravadori, the famous swordsmen, whose legends are widely known, and whose main job to keep the order and save the people from any danger. Arturo want’s nothing more than to be one of the brave, untouchable heroes he dreamed about as a child. Although soon he has to learn the legends and the reality not always walk hand in hand. Not long after arriving to the city he finds myself in the middle of an adventure, with the most unlikely companions: Crazy Raccoon, member of the Lion’s Paw, legendary hero who never lost in a fight and whose mere presence can stop a fight; Yizel, the maskless Bravador – every Bravador wears a mask, representing his/her group, unless he/she commits a crime which is punished by taking the mask and live as Shaven, living from day-to-day if they get hired for a job. Both of them change a lot during the story, their character arcs are pretty well written. Arturo himself reminded me a bit of young d’Artagnan, being hotheaded, full of hopes and ideals.

Besides the main characters, Benedict Patrick introduces a few really interesting side ones, who happened to be my favorite ones: Gavrilla, the Queen’s Bride, who helps out Arturo when he seems to be lost in the city. She has that kind of humor I like and also a rebelling personality. If Patrick ever comes back to visit this part of the Yarnsworld, I really hope Gavrilla will make an appearance. The other significant side characters are the Shepherdess and Procopio, whose story runs parallel to our heroes’. As usual, the short folk tales accompanying the main story shed some light on past happenings, which led to the current situation. But the hints might be not so subtle this time, if someone pays attention, can foresee some of the twists.

Benedict Patrick’s writing style is flawless and every character comes alive on the pages. His world is vivid, his imagination is endless, his creatures are unique, his descriptions picture like. One can easily lose himself/herself in the city of Espadapan which has a mediterranean feel to it. It’s a pity we don’t spend nearly enough time there to properly discover its streets, and population. Despite the obvious writing skills Patrick has, for some reasons this time his magic is not working so well. The characters although well fleshed out, felt a bit flat and their actions were predictable, the twists weren’t all that surprising as they should have been, and the last fight scene a bit too rushed. Although the creative swearing made up for all the flaws a bit. Some of them was pretty hilarious and found myself snorting out loud.

Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is Zorro meets The Three Musketeers. It has adventure, exciting sword fights, clashing morals. The reckless youthfulness meets the wise seasoned fighter and sets sparkles. And of course there is no Benedict Patrick novel without rich mythology and folklore to make the Yarnsworld a place you’d like to visit. Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is a tale about heroes, braveness, selflessness, sorrow, revenge, regrets and chances to begin again. Its tone is different from the other Yarnsworld books, so if you are looking something fun and action packed then this book will be perfect for you!

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you like folktales, mythology from other cultures, and a bit of swashbuckling adventure, this might be the book for you! This book explores folklore from Mexico and Central America, following various masked swordsmen as they strive to find their place in the world.
 
The setting is heavily influenced by Mexico and Central America. The characters and locations are named with a distinctly Spanish flair, and the culture even takes siestas each afternoon.

This book accomplishes a lot of worldbuilding in a very smooth and concise manner. Espadapan, or The City of Swords, is full of masked swordsmen known as Bravadori. Legends tell of their heroic exploits, but many of the Bravadori fall short of these idealized tales. There are other notable groups within the city, such as the pious Queen's Brides and the outcast Shaven. The world's magic takes the form of Knacks, where everyone develops an uncanny talent for something they do regularly.

What about that monster on the cover, you ask? Without going into too much detail, there are supernatural beings near the City of Swords, and they are not particularly happy that their land has been invaded. Several of these creatures are downright creepy and different from the monsters that often appear in traditional fantasy.

There are three main POV characters. Arturo is a young, idealistic man who has developed a Knack for swordsmanship and wants to make a name for himself in the City of Swords. Yizel was once a respected Bravador, but fell from grace and is now a lowly Shaven. Crazy Raccoon: the man, the myth, the kind-of-an-asshole legend .All of these characters were all well-written and enjoyable to read. The author has definitely improved significantly in writing compelling characters.

When Arturo arrives in Espadapan to make a name for himself among the Bravadori, he's surprised to find the reality of the sword fighters does not live up to the legends. He stumbles into one unfortunate situation after another, until he finally hears of a nearby town in desperate need of help. Excited to finally get the chance to prove himself and live up to his idealized version of the Bravadori, he sets out on the adventure of a lifetime.  

The most unique aspect of any of the Yarnsworld novels is the in-universe stories that take place between each chapter. This book features tales heard in the taverns of Espadapan, ranging from the monsters of the Wildlands to the heroic exploits of long-dead Bravadori. These serve to build the world and ultimately play an important role in the plot.

The prose is fairly straightforward and there are a few editing errors throughout the book, but overall the novel is very polished for a self-published book. The pacing is consistent and the novel is short, making this a book you could easily read in a few sittings.
 
Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read. I had a lot of fun with it, so while it might not be the most polished book I've ever read, it definitely deserves five stars.

[David Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back with Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld series and I’ll be quite honest I couldn’t have been any more excited. For me this series has been the biggest shock since I started reviewing as it was just so original and had an immediate wow factor.

This is the best yet in the series, it’s fantasy with a dark twist that I just love.

Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords is the tale of Arturo, he wants to become a Bravador. The Bravadori are a thing of legend, they are protectors. Unfortunately for Arturo the Bravadori he meets don’t live up to the legend.

If the Bravadori won’t be the protectors of those in need Arturo will!

Here’s where the tale starts to get really interesting. He’s joined on his journey by Yizel and Crazy Raccoon, each of these has their own tale. Yizel is a fallen Bravador who needs to find her worth again and Crazy Raccoon..well he’s just got a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove.

A familiar feature in the authors work is the idea of a person’s “knack”, essentially something they are very skilled at and they have these moments when their knack will flare and the early scenes in the book really had the young boy in me on edge as I imagined the swordplay and the individuals knack coming into play.

The chapters flow easily and once again the author continues to break up the reading into easy and manageable sections, after each chapter you are treated to some folklore of the Yarnsworld, you hear about the people Arturo dreamed of becoming and it really did bring the story together well while at the same time keeping things fresh and interesting.

I always love the folklore feel with Benedict’s work, it’s like these books themselves could have been passed down through the ages..the stuff of legends.

What the author always gets right for me is the suspense.. the build up to something big you know is coming but until it happens you’ve literally no idea where the author will take you.. it’s so utterly engrossing.

Benedict’s works are a real gem and a must for fantasy lovers, there’s so much scope to the series that I can see many more tales to come. Even the cover gets me excited with this one, the vivid image suits the tale well and I just love the design.

I received an ARC copy of the book for review purposes but I’ll be adding a paperback to my collection soon!

[Sharkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot different than the other two Yarnsworld books. Which is in NO WAY a bad thing.

The first half of the book felt very slow. Which was fine, but I also think it's the first time I liked the tales better than the actual plot. But at the end - wow. So much insane action and just plain, dark, fun.

I really liked the concept of the Bravadori, they were a super interesting group to focus on (and to hate the majority of!).

I cannot wait for the next Yarnsworld novel!! I'm loving this series so far, I just want more!

[Jonathan Osgood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read like the swashbuckling adventure with grit thrown in. Did find some of the names strange. But a definitely a page turner

[Dianthaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not smart. I was shocked that this rural fairytale world had cities. It was even in the title. So that really threw me, which is why I suspect TBFSFTCOS is my least favorite of the bunch, but I still enjoyed it a lot, especially as the action moves outside the city and back into creepy wilderness with man-eating crazy breathing monsters. Just took me a while to get into it.

I liked the way the “never meet your heroes” theme was portrayed, although the point was driven home a bit too gut wrenchingly for my personal taste I thought it was well done. The other books seemed more man vs monsters, the distinction is less clear here. Not to the say that so far the characters were morally upstanding citizens, just that the grey looks darker here.

I really dig the monster/gods in this one. They’re on a new level of alien creepiness, with ashen faces and many toothy mouths, they’re also very pissed, and with good reason. The setting is based on central or south American about 100 years or so after the Spanish colonization.

TBFSFTCOS has 3 point of view characters, Arturo, the naive young man setting out to become a hero, Yizel, the fallen Shaven, and Crazy Racoon, the veteran Bravadori, the masked warriors meant to protect the people against the bandits and monsters of the Wildlands. I found Arturo to be the relatable one, Yizel the interesting one and Crazy Racoon the one I’d give a good thrashing too.

The ending was some avalanche roller coaster shit. Again keeping me up past my bedtime cause I couldn’t put it down. It had action, with the day going from lost to won, to lost to won to lost to .. so on, very intense, it had emotions all over the place with backstories coming to light, feelings being brought up, rooftops being jumped from. It was very wow.

[Maša · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benedict Patrick has turned into a writer I have an eye out with his previous book about a girl and a monster. Here, he continues to tick my boxes for enjoyable, meaningful stories filled with characters I care about. Here, we see echoes of America's fables, and get to meet some parallel-universe version of Pocahontas.

Here, we follow 3 POVs and - I'm not gonna lie - together with the stories between chapters, it sometimes felt like a chore. I feel that characters' stories (especially Yizel's), as result, rang a bit hollow, their motivations not that clear, their emotions a bit harder to experience.

Oh, and I stopped grading this as a self published work - I feel Patrick earned it. I' giddy about possible ecranisation.

[James (ObservantRaven) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Benedict Patrick is an indie author whose work I have been meaning read for well over a year now and after reading “The City of Swords” I wish I had read one of his books sooner.

The City of Swords may be a small book in comparison to some of the books currently being released but as I have heard over the years always strive for quality over quantity and there are a number of books in my opinion that are quite long but don’t have half the quality that Benedict Patrick’s book City of Swords certainly does.

When I first started reading this book I was very intrigued by the world that was being built. I admit it did take me roughly a chapter or two to find me footing and learn what world had to offer but once I found my footing I quickly found myself thoroughly enjoying it. If I could have one piece of advice about reading this book it would be, once you are a few chapters into this book I would heavily advise clearing your schedule because once I got to this point I found myself finding it very difficult to put this book down. Benedict Patrick’s takes what starts as a slow building but very interesting book and just builds up the pace during each chapter so within a few chapters the pacing is perfect and even after that you will still find it slowly building towards something big.

Out of all the fantasy books I have ever read I don’t think I ever came across a world like The City of Swords offers. To me it almost seems like a mix between luchador vigilantes and The Lies of Locke Lamora. The reason why I say luchador vigilantes is because the book has many characters in it called Bravadori, most of which have their own individual mask design and nicknames e.g. Crazy Raccoon. It reminds of The Lies of Locke Lamora because the world has many different gangs known as stables and the main character’s remind me very much of Locke and Jean. This may seem like a very strange mix but believe me it works.

One aspect I thoroughly enjoyed about this book was that in between each chapter we are given a few pages that delve deeper into the worlds history. I have found more and more books trying to do something like this whether it be having notes in the footer or switching timelines every so often, majority of the time I find this can break your world immersion but The City of Swords certainly doesn’t have this problem and I believe it actually enhances your immersion. Also once you start to get towards the end of the book you start to see everything you have learnt about the worlds history come full circle and it helps you grasp a better understanding.

Towards the start of the book there aren’t to many actions scenes and even when there is they are very short but as the book progresses the do start to become more frequent, especially towards the end. I loved reading the action scenes in this book and even more so when the book starts to describe the use of a characters knack. If Benedict Patrick does more stories contained within this part of the world then I would definitely like to see him go into more detail about the different knacks people have as I felt this is one area the book could have done more with.

If you haven’t already read any of Benedict Patrick’s then I highly recommend you do so because his work is fantastic. The City of Swords is the third book in the Yarnsworld series but all of his books so far are self contained so don’t be afraid to pick this book up first if you want to as you don’t need to know anything about the previous ones. The City of Swords is a truly wondrous experience book filled with vigilante “luchadors” and I would definitely recommend it to any fan of fantasy or sci-fi. Having read this I am not only looking forward to Benedict Patrick’s future work but also reading the previous books in the Yarnsworld series.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third Yarnsworld story, and it drew me in from the offset. I loved the setting of Espadapan, and the Bravadori were fascinating – I enjoyed the contrast between the stories of what a Bravador should be, and the reality encountered in the city.

The story follows three main characters. Arturo is a fresh-faced young man whose dream is to be a true Bravador. Yizel is a disgraced former Bravador, struggling to get by on the streets of Espadapan. And Crazy Raccoon is a living legend. All three characters were interesting, and their stories felt well-balanced – I never felt like I was having to slog my way through one character’s chapter to be “rewarded” with another. I do wish that minor character Gavrilla had featured more, and I’m hopeful that we’ll get to see more of her in a later Yarnsworld story.

This book features more of the author’s signature folk tales between chapters, and they really helped to bring the story together. I always enjoy seeing how these tales will come together with the main story, and I was definitely not disappointed.

This is my favourite of Benedict’s books so far, and I’d recommend this book to any fantasy fan looking for an exciting adventure.

[Deb Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by this author. Dark and often dreadful, the culture young Arturo wants so desperately to be a part of cannot give him what he really wants or expects. He strikes out on his own with two other misfits and finds out what true heroism really is. A story of bitter disappointment, horror and ultimately redemption for the three unwanted heroes.