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Spellslinger #6
Crownbreaker
The sixth - and final - instalment of the inimitable SPELLSLINGER series.
Kellen and Reichis are settling into their new lives as protectors of the young queen and dealing with the constantly shifting threats to her reign and to her life. For the first time in his life, Kellen feels as if he's becoming the kind of man that his mentor Ferius had wanted him to be. Even Reichis has come to appreciate having a noble purpose - so long as no one minds him committing the occasional act of theft from the royal treasury.
But what seems to be a simple card game between Kellen and an old man is soon revealed to be a deadly game of wits in which a powerful mage has trapped the queen's spellslinger in order to kill him.
Perfect for fans of The Dark Tower, Firefly, Guardians of the Galaxy, Terry Pratchett, Ben Aaronovitch and Jim Butcher.
Kellen and Reichis are settling into their new lives as protectors of the young queen and dealing with the constantly shifting threats to her reign and to her life. For the first time in his life, Kellen feels as if he's becoming the kind of man that his mentor Ferius had wanted him to be. Even Reichis has come to appreciate having a noble purpose - so long as no one minds him committing the occasional act of theft from the royal treasury.
But what seems to be a simple card game between Kellen and an old man is soon revealed to be a deadly game of wits in which a powerful mage has trapped the queen's spellslinger in order to kill him.
Perfect for fans of The Dark Tower, Firefly, Guardians of the Galaxy, Terry Pratchett, Ben Aaronovitch and Jim Butcher.
519 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2019
271 people are currently reading
4870 people want to read
About the author
Sebastien de Castell
58 books4,989 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 529 reviews
December 28, 2020
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I am going to be very honest here and say that my experience with the series was very underwhelming! I wish I used the time to read the author’s Greatcoats series because it is directed toward adult readers which is me, this is directed toward younger readers and it shows. I am not a big fan of the ending too but compared to the mess that was book 5, this is still definitely better!
I mean after writing 5 reviews for the previous books there is not much new things to say. The books get predictable easily and I think the author tried to break this criticism by bringing something additional out of nowhere which made it an unrealistic addition to the series. I was waiting to see how will things resolve and climax in the 6th book but the author just took them in a whole different direction and had a kind of an open ending and said he’s leaving it to the reader’s imagination and I am like “really?”.
Summary: this is a short review because I don’t have much to say, the series started okay, improved and then went downhill from there, the last 2 books disappointed me. I am starting the Greatcoats next which I have much more expectations for. I do not recommend this series for adults (even if you enjoyed greatcoats) but maybe younger readers will enjoy it!
“Is that what all human civilisation leads to?’ I asked. ‘Are we destined for nothing more than endless wars and bloodshed?”
I am going to be very honest here and say that my experience with the series was very underwhelming! I wish I used the time to read the author’s Greatcoats series because it is directed toward adult readers which is me, this is directed toward younger readers and it shows. I am not a big fan of the ending too but compared to the mess that was book 5, this is still definitely better!
I mean after writing 5 reviews for the previous books there is not much new things to say. The books get predictable easily and I think the author tried to break this criticism by bringing something additional out of nowhere which made it an unrealistic addition to the series. I was waiting to see how will things resolve and climax in the 6th book but the author just took them in a whole different direction and had a kind of an open ending and said he’s leaving it to the reader’s imagination and I am like “really?”.
Summary: this is a short review because I don’t have much to say, the series started okay, improved and then went downhill from there, the last 2 books disappointed me. I am starting the Greatcoats next which I have much more expectations for. I do not recommend this series for adults (even if you enjoyed greatcoats) but maybe younger readers will enjoy it!
December 29, 2019
I'm not entirely sure what happened. I wish I had enjoyed these last 2 books more but the story felt out of place. New villains popped up I didn't see the point of, new characters appeared who I was supposed to just like for no reason. The story I was so invested in during books 1-4 disappeared and books 5 and 6 felt like it just ditched all that progress.
For example, a character who is known as God appears in this installment and he's suddenly Kellen's (and the worlds) focus but I had zero time to know this character and the ending was based on him. What happened to the other plot points from the earlier books? They just weren't wrapped up.
The plot line I was invested in the most doesn’t get resolved. There’s even a postscript chapter at the end with the author saying “I promise, the answer is waiting for you inside your own imagination.”
NO.
I did binge read this entire series at once so maybe I’m seeing these problems a lot more because of that. I’ll be filming an entire video about this series and if I think it’s worth reading so be on the lookout for that!
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
For example, a character who is known as God appears in this installment and he's suddenly Kellen's (and the worlds) focus but I had zero time to know this character and the ending was based on him. What happened to the other plot points from the earlier books? They just weren't wrapped up.
The plot line I was invested in the most doesn’t get resolved. There’s even a postscript chapter at the end with the author saying “I promise, the answer is waiting for you inside your own imagination.”
NO.
I did binge read this entire series at once so maybe I’m seeing these problems a lot more because of that. I’ll be filming an entire video about this series and if I think it’s worth reading so be on the lookout for that!
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
December 4, 2024
4.5 ☆
”See, I wasn’t born to be an outlaw. Probably wasn’t built for any of this. But whatever life lay ahead of me was mine, paid for in full, and every point of light in the sky above was another path for me to follow. And there sure are a lot of stars up there.”
reading this series was such a fun ride, these characters have become such a comfort for me and solidified why this author is one of my favorites. Kellen’s arc throughout all these books came to its end with his standoff against his father. i thought everything that happened it here was very fitting for the journey they’d all been on and i don’t have any complaints. can’t wait to read the spinoff following Farius now cause i love her.
”See, I wasn’t born to be an outlaw. Probably wasn’t built for any of this. But whatever life lay ahead of me was mine, paid for in full, and every point of light in the sky above was another path for me to follow. And there sure are a lot of stars up there.”
reading this series was such a fun ride, these characters have become such a comfort for me and solidified why this author is one of my favorites. Kellen’s arc throughout all these books came to its end with his standoff against his father. i thought everything that happened it here was very fitting for the journey they’d all been on and i don’t have any complaints. can’t wait to read the spinoff following Farius now cause i love her.
October 9, 2019
That postscript was perfect.
January 19, 2021
*exhale sigh* this series is wonderful...
October 25, 2019
I can’t recommend this series enough, especially now I know De Castell truly knows how to write an ending. Even though he said Kellen and his friends would always be in our hearts, this goodbye still hurt. Spellslinger will always be one of my favorite fantasy series, filled with tricks, magic, realism and best of all, innovative characters. Sometimes, we don’t need a hero. Sometimes, we just need our wits and a little fear to remind us we’re alive. And…yeah, a good book also helps.
Kellen and Reichis are growing into their jobs as protectors of the young Daroman queen, even if this means the royal marshal service keeps bugging them all the time. Kellen has made many enemies over the years, and they won’t be the last. Even his own family has turned against him more than once now. Imagine his surprise when mage sovereign and father Ke’heops come to ask for his aid. The Berabesq have a foreign god by their side, and finally united, they are ready for war. Unforeseen circumstances make him accept the preposition. Finding his place in this world will have to wait, because now he has to travel to the most heavily guarded city in the world to assassinate a spiritual miracle. After all, isn’t an ambitious trickster the best kind of assassin?
As if De Castell didn’t already put enough detailed work into building up his world, we finally got a map. Not that it was necessary with his vivid descriptions, but it was still a pleasant way to end the series with. We start our adventure again with a certain defeat, but that’s as repetitive as it goes. Instead, we focus on different relationships and characters this time, where Kellen can no longer abandon his duty to make choices. Once again, the reader falls in love with the wonderful, whimsical card illustrations in the book. I read it in the e-book format, but the actual physical copy I’ll buy in a few months has golden-sprayed edges. I’m saying all of this, because all of the Spellslinger covers are single masterpieces. Every part of it, front to back fits into the plot, and yet, the series are so underrated. Accompanied by a simple writing style that hooks you in from the beginning, De Castell has managed to overwhelm me for six books long. He throws away the trope of the chosen one, and morphs it into something greater: a witty trickster, whose enemies are physically stronger than him in every way. Kellen is never sure of his victory, but he sure outwits a lot of the villains on his path.
Spellslinger has always been strongly based on culture, religion and family, which lead to realism. In this particular web of lies and deception, there was no difference. It’s intimidating, what people will do for survival and legacy, but it’s also truth. De Castell has put the world we are familiar with in a high fantasy jacket, filled with memorable Argosi lessons. At the end of this series, you’ll feel as if you’re some sort of wise trickster yourself (thank you, maetri Ferius). The means don’t always justify the ends, and there is no right person to who one owns duty. A villain always has a villain on his own, and forgiveness is not the same as acceptance. Honestly, one of my favorite lessons was the one Kellen learned completely by himself. You don’t own anything to your family. You are who you make yourself to be, not who your upbringing decides you to be. It is not the family by blood that binds you, but the family you lean on by choice. And well, we all know Kellen had the most amazing companions one could ask for.
In the end, everything made sense from the first book to the last. All these surprising twists together formed such an incredible way to end this journey. Yes, I slightly predicted the initial outcome, but that simply meant growth for our characters. And surprisingly, there were more villains than I predicted. All of them were complicated, and due to the fast pace, I was left biting my nails in agony many times. None of these morally complex enemies knew what they were doing was wrong, and even though you don’t support them, you can see where they come from. You can see that if you wouldn’t have seen the story through Kellen’s perspective, he might have been the villain to you. That’s how you write a good one, and De Castell even managed to involve the delicate case of mental abuse into this. All in all, I won’t be leaving this world for a while.
Crownbreaker was my favorite book in the whole series, and can set 4 stars on his name. Every chapter ended with such a cliffhanger that it was impossible to put it down. Unlike many final books, it wasn’t confusing. In fact, we saw many reunions occur, where the previous books got summarized again. I did miss the occasional element of gore, which was necessary in the former books. Granted, the violent events were definitely gruesome. Apart from the hilarious humor, there was also some cutting-edge quality added to our major characters. Kellen finally starts using more different attacks other than the powders in his pocket. This also included his shadowblack enigmatism, although we unfortunately didn’t get an answer about the potential consuming darkness behind the markings. In the end, our hero did come to realize what he stands for, and what (or who) he wants to fight for. Yet, if De Castell made one thing obvious, it’s that the road to self-development never ends. It’s all about the journey, and well…a Path is infinite. So is the world of Spellslinger.
Kellen and Reichis are growing into their jobs as protectors of the young Daroman queen, even if this means the royal marshal service keeps bugging them all the time. Kellen has made many enemies over the years, and they won’t be the last. Even his own family has turned against him more than once now. Imagine his surprise when mage sovereign and father Ke’heops come to ask for his aid. The Berabesq have a foreign god by their side, and finally united, they are ready for war. Unforeseen circumstances make him accept the preposition. Finding his place in this world will have to wait, because now he has to travel to the most heavily guarded city in the world to assassinate a spiritual miracle. After all, isn’t an ambitious trickster the best kind of assassin?
As if De Castell didn’t already put enough detailed work into building up his world, we finally got a map. Not that it was necessary with his vivid descriptions, but it was still a pleasant way to end the series with. We start our adventure again with a certain defeat, but that’s as repetitive as it goes. Instead, we focus on different relationships and characters this time, where Kellen can no longer abandon his duty to make choices. Once again, the reader falls in love with the wonderful, whimsical card illustrations in the book. I read it in the e-book format, but the actual physical copy I’ll buy in a few months has golden-sprayed edges. I’m saying all of this, because all of the Spellslinger covers are single masterpieces. Every part of it, front to back fits into the plot, and yet, the series are so underrated. Accompanied by a simple writing style that hooks you in from the beginning, De Castell has managed to overwhelm me for six books long. He throws away the trope of the chosen one, and morphs it into something greater: a witty trickster, whose enemies are physically stronger than him in every way. Kellen is never sure of his victory, but he sure outwits a lot of the villains on his path.
Spellslinger has always been strongly based on culture, religion and family, which lead to realism. In this particular web of lies and deception, there was no difference. It’s intimidating, what people will do for survival and legacy, but it’s also truth. De Castell has put the world we are familiar with in a high fantasy jacket, filled with memorable Argosi lessons. At the end of this series, you’ll feel as if you’re some sort of wise trickster yourself (thank you, maetri Ferius). The means don’t always justify the ends, and there is no right person to who one owns duty. A villain always has a villain on his own, and forgiveness is not the same as acceptance. Honestly, one of my favorite lessons was the one Kellen learned completely by himself. You don’t own anything to your family. You are who you make yourself to be, not who your upbringing decides you to be. It is not the family by blood that binds you, but the family you lean on by choice. And well, we all know Kellen had the most amazing companions one could ask for.
In the end, everything made sense from the first book to the last. All these surprising twists together formed such an incredible way to end this journey. Yes, I slightly predicted the initial outcome, but that simply meant growth for our characters. And surprisingly, there were more villains than I predicted. All of them were complicated, and due to the fast pace, I was left biting my nails in agony many times. None of these morally complex enemies knew what they were doing was wrong, and even though you don’t support them, you can see where they come from. You can see that if you wouldn’t have seen the story through Kellen’s perspective, he might have been the villain to you. That’s how you write a good one, and De Castell even managed to involve the delicate case of mental abuse into this. All in all, I won’t be leaving this world for a while.
Crownbreaker was my favorite book in the whole series, and can set 4 stars on his name. Every chapter ended with such a cliffhanger that it was impossible to put it down. Unlike many final books, it wasn’t confusing. In fact, we saw many reunions occur, where the previous books got summarized again. I did miss the occasional element of gore, which was necessary in the former books. Granted, the violent events were definitely gruesome. Apart from the hilarious humor, there was also some cutting-edge quality added to our major characters. Kellen finally starts using more different attacks other than the powders in his pocket. This also included his shadowblack enigmatism, although we unfortunately didn’t get an answer about the potential consuming darkness behind the markings. In the end, our hero did come to realize what he stands for, and what (or who) he wants to fight for. Yet, if De Castell made one thing obvious, it’s that the road to self-development never ends. It’s all about the journey, and well…a Path is infinite. So is the world of Spellslinger.
May 29, 2022
4.5 stars.
It's so satisfying when the best book of the series is its conclusion. I found the character growth of Kellen throughout all six books to be really well-executed. Our main protagonist in an underdog in every sense of the word - a jack of all trades but master of none, and in the case of magic, he only has access to a mere one-sixth of that available to his brethren. However, he always has one more trick up his sleeve to save himself from imminent death. The way de Castell was able to convince me that Kellen's arsenal of tricks was capable of defeating the most powerful enemy was impressive to say the least.
As far as young adult books go, I think the Spellslinger series managed to avoid the pitfalls of common tropes. Kellen was as far from a special snowflake as you can get, and you can't help rooting for this guy. He might have too much of a smart-mouth on him most of the times, but I found it to be quite endearing. In fact, he reminded me of Falcio from The Greatcoats series. I also loved how de Castell deftly balances the darkness of the narrative (believe me, there were some truly dark stuff here) and the humour which provided much needed levity.
But Kellen would be nothing without his fabulous 'business partner', Reichis the squirrel cat, and his friend and mentor, Ferius Parfax. I'm really going to miss reading the interactions and dynamics between these characters. Fortunately, there's a prequel series featuring the backstory of the enigmatic and mysterious Ferius Parfax, which I'm definitely reading in the near future.
It's so satisfying when the best book of the series is its conclusion. I found the character growth of Kellen throughout all six books to be really well-executed. Our main protagonist in an underdog in every sense of the word - a jack of all trades but master of none, and in the case of magic, he only has access to a mere one-sixth of that available to his brethren. However, he always has one more trick up his sleeve to save himself from imminent death. The way de Castell was able to convince me that Kellen's arsenal of tricks was capable of defeating the most powerful enemy was impressive to say the least.
As far as young adult books go, I think the Spellslinger series managed to avoid the pitfalls of common tropes. Kellen was as far from a special snowflake as you can get, and you can't help rooting for this guy. He might have too much of a smart-mouth on him most of the times, but I found it to be quite endearing. In fact, he reminded me of Falcio from The Greatcoats series. I also loved how de Castell deftly balances the darkness of the narrative (believe me, there were some truly dark stuff here) and the humour which provided much needed levity.
But Kellen would be nothing without his fabulous 'business partner', Reichis the squirrel cat, and his friend and mentor, Ferius Parfax. I'm really going to miss reading the interactions and dynamics between these characters. Fortunately, there's a prequel series featuring the backstory of the enigmatic and mysterious Ferius Parfax, which I'm definitely reading in the near future.
December 19, 2019
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/12/19/...
Crownbreaker is the ending to the Spellslinger series that fans have been waiting for. For six books now, we’ve been journeying along with Kellen Argos, a failed mage who has become so much more. But while it’s incredible to see how far he has come, how in many ways he is different from the boy he used to be, it’s also heartwarming to know in all the important ways he has not changed at all, that he is still the Kellen we know and love. Likewise, the stories in these books have evolved, growing bigger in scope and conflict, but a lot of the themes have remained the same, an anchoring point for longtime fans of the series.
For one thing, Kellen is still on the run, and even in exile he’ll never be safe, because so long as he has a price on his head, he’ll always be hunted. Still, what if there is an opportunity to put an end to all that? For now, Kellen has made a comfortable enough home for himself in Darome, serving as a tutor and protector to the nation’s young queen. But his family are aware of where he is and what he has been doing, and an offer to come home with no questions asked is now on the table. That said, there is the matter of his strained relationship with his parents, and the even more complicated one with his sister. With the possibility of a war looming, however, he’ll have to consider all options, as loathsome as some of them might be. In order to protect his queen, Kellen has been tasked to do something drastic, something he finds reprehensible, and yet, the consequences of not carrying it out can mean an end to the empire.
So yeah, endings make me nervous. No matter much I love a series, if the final volume is disappointing, it can really leave a bad taste in your mouth and sour the whole experience. And on top of that, endings usually mean saying goodbye to characters who have lived in our hearts and our heads for so long, it’s almost feels like you are losing a friend, making it all the more important for an author to provide a good sendoff.
But boy, does Sebastien de Castell know how to do just that! First of all, Crownbreaker is like the ultimate reunion of sorts, gathering ‘round all the important figures who have made an impact on our protagonist’s life. I nearly jumped up and danced with joy to have our original trio of Kellen, Reichis, and Ferius Parfax back together again—damn, I missed that spunky Argosi. But of course, her reappearance also spells some dire news for Kellen, stirring up painful emotions and putting him in a tight spot. A certain Argosi named after a Rose also makes a return, as does a familiar young woman and her hyena, so you know the author isn’t messing around. I loved how so many things came full circle, the way I love my endings. There have been a couple books mid-series where I felt things had stalled, but looking back now, I see that the plan has been in place all along for all the pieces to come together.
More than this, I really can’t say because of all the revelations and various plotlines that come to fruition which are best left for the reader to discover for themselves. Suffice to say we’ve reached a point where all the tension, all the mystery and intrigue has built to a point which demands a resolution worthy of its conflict, and De Castell delivers. Granted, there were parts in the book where pacing flagged, but I saw this as the inevitable result of all the explanations required to bring answers and closure to many of Kellen’s problems like the Shadowblack, his family drama, the uncertain relationship he has with his own abilities as well as his past. After all these years, he thought he had made his peace with the injustices inflicted upon him, but a part of him still wants the life he was supposed to have, and I think these feelings play a major part in Crownbreaker which made this a very emotional book for me.
And speaking of emotional, it still amazes me how much Kellen has grown—and not only that, how much the series has matured along with him. Spellslinger, the first book, was distinctively YA, but by the time we get to Crownbreaker, the tone of the series has become more ambiguous, with elements that would appeal to both YA and adult readers. It’s brilliant, because it makes us feel like we grow with the character, watching Kellen develop from an awkward boy of fifteen, naively trying to game his way through his trials, to a worldly young adult who is the sum of all his experiences and the lessons he’s learned while being on the road. The brilliance also extends to the final postscript, which was surprising, different, and completely awesome.
So kudos to you, Mr. De Castell, for you’ve done it again! Thank you for the gift of the Spellslinger series, which you can be sure is now joining The Greatcoats quartet on my all-time favorites shelf. To fantasy fans, if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this author, then you’re in for a treat, because if you’re into humor and action, genuine characters and richly imagined worlds, his stories have it all.
Crownbreaker is the ending to the Spellslinger series that fans have been waiting for. For six books now, we’ve been journeying along with Kellen Argos, a failed mage who has become so much more. But while it’s incredible to see how far he has come, how in many ways he is different from the boy he used to be, it’s also heartwarming to know in all the important ways he has not changed at all, that he is still the Kellen we know and love. Likewise, the stories in these books have evolved, growing bigger in scope and conflict, but a lot of the themes have remained the same, an anchoring point for longtime fans of the series.
For one thing, Kellen is still on the run, and even in exile he’ll never be safe, because so long as he has a price on his head, he’ll always be hunted. Still, what if there is an opportunity to put an end to all that? For now, Kellen has made a comfortable enough home for himself in Darome, serving as a tutor and protector to the nation’s young queen. But his family are aware of where he is and what he has been doing, and an offer to come home with no questions asked is now on the table. That said, there is the matter of his strained relationship with his parents, and the even more complicated one with his sister. With the possibility of a war looming, however, he’ll have to consider all options, as loathsome as some of them might be. In order to protect his queen, Kellen has been tasked to do something drastic, something he finds reprehensible, and yet, the consequences of not carrying it out can mean an end to the empire.
So yeah, endings make me nervous. No matter much I love a series, if the final volume is disappointing, it can really leave a bad taste in your mouth and sour the whole experience. And on top of that, endings usually mean saying goodbye to characters who have lived in our hearts and our heads for so long, it’s almost feels like you are losing a friend, making it all the more important for an author to provide a good sendoff.
But boy, does Sebastien de Castell know how to do just that! First of all, Crownbreaker is like the ultimate reunion of sorts, gathering ‘round all the important figures who have made an impact on our protagonist’s life. I nearly jumped up and danced with joy to have our original trio of Kellen, Reichis, and Ferius Parfax back together again—damn, I missed that spunky Argosi. But of course, her reappearance also spells some dire news for Kellen, stirring up painful emotions and putting him in a tight spot. A certain Argosi named after a Rose also makes a return, as does a familiar young woman and her hyena, so you know the author isn’t messing around. I loved how so many things came full circle, the way I love my endings. There have been a couple books mid-series where I felt things had stalled, but looking back now, I see that the plan has been in place all along for all the pieces to come together.
More than this, I really can’t say because of all the revelations and various plotlines that come to fruition which are best left for the reader to discover for themselves. Suffice to say we’ve reached a point where all the tension, all the mystery and intrigue has built to a point which demands a resolution worthy of its conflict, and De Castell delivers. Granted, there were parts in the book where pacing flagged, but I saw this as the inevitable result of all the explanations required to bring answers and closure to many of Kellen’s problems like the Shadowblack, his family drama, the uncertain relationship he has with his own abilities as well as his past. After all these years, he thought he had made his peace with the injustices inflicted upon him, but a part of him still wants the life he was supposed to have, and I think these feelings play a major part in Crownbreaker which made this a very emotional book for me.
And speaking of emotional, it still amazes me how much Kellen has grown—and not only that, how much the series has matured along with him. Spellslinger, the first book, was distinctively YA, but by the time we get to Crownbreaker, the tone of the series has become more ambiguous, with elements that would appeal to both YA and adult readers. It’s brilliant, because it makes us feel like we grow with the character, watching Kellen develop from an awkward boy of fifteen, naively trying to game his way through his trials, to a worldly young adult who is the sum of all his experiences and the lessons he’s learned while being on the road. The brilliance also extends to the final postscript, which was surprising, different, and completely awesome.
So kudos to you, Mr. De Castell, for you’ve done it again! Thank you for the gift of the Spellslinger series, which you can be sure is now joining The Greatcoats quartet on my all-time favorites shelf. To fantasy fans, if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this author, then you’re in for a treat, because if you’re into humor and action, genuine characters and richly imagined worlds, his stories have it all.
October 22, 2019
I'll admit that I begrudgingly picked up Spellslinger when I was in a reading funk and looking for something light and short to try and trigger my reading momentum. 6 books later I can attest to the fact that it just might have worked as I quickly became a big fan of the series. From characters, to story, to narration to cover art, every book has kept me wanting more and this one was no exception.
A fun, well rounded, exceptionally paced and thoroughly entertaining series. I have zero hesitation is saying de Castell is an author you can trust. I'm sorry to say goodbye, but I can't wait for more.
A fun, well rounded, exceptionally paced and thoroughly entertaining series. I have zero hesitation is saying de Castell is an author you can trust. I'm sorry to say goodbye, but I can't wait for more.
June 25, 2021
Sebastien de Castell knows how to end a series.
Loved.
Loved.
May 18, 2022
4.5 stars. A solid and satisfying ending to this series with the best book of the bunch.
August 14, 2020
Já už fakt nevím, jak vám mám tuhle sérii vychválit víc, abyste si ji přečetli.
Je to prostě dokonalost.
5/5*, pochopitelně.
Brečím, protože je konec.7
(celou recenzi najdete zde)
Je to prostě dokonalost.
5/5*, pochopitelně.
Brečím, protože je konec.7
(celou recenzi najdete zde)
December 1, 2019
Crownbreaker is a fitting conclusion to a great series.
Spellslinger is one of those rare series of books that starts off strongly, maintains the quality and ends with a bang. Crownbreaker brings Kellen Argos's story arc to a satisfying conclusion and I love every moment of it.
This series is a must read.
Spellslinger is one of those rare series of books that starts off strongly, maintains the quality and ends with a bang. Crownbreaker brings Kellen Argos's story arc to a satisfying conclusion and I love every moment of it.
This series is a must read.
November 2, 2019
Five stars. Always. 💙💙💙💙💙
I loved this so much. It felt like a perfect way to round out Kellen’s adventures so far, and to let us see the bigger picture that we’ve been glimpsing throughout when it comes to politics.
I really don’t want to spoil anything so I will say that I continue to love the people we knew, and really enjoyed some of the new characters we meet.
And Sebastien’s post script was perfect.
I loved this so much. It felt like a perfect way to round out Kellen’s adventures so far, and to let us see the bigger picture that we’ve been glimpsing throughout when it comes to politics.
I really don’t want to spoil anything so I will say that I continue to love the people we knew, and really enjoyed some of the new characters we meet.
And Sebastien’s post script was perfect.
December 7, 2019
Spoiler-FREE review of ‘Crownbreaker’
“The world has no use for a trickster once the final trick is played.”
5.0/5.0 I just spent the last week wanting to know what happens, but not wanting it to end. It has been a poetically problematic week for me to be honest.
The character growth throughout the start of the series has been amazing. I am not going to name any characters here in fear of spoiling anything throughout the series, suffice it to say, I found many different characters development fantastic and happy the way the grew. This series really hooked me with a few key characters, and what can I say, other than it ended right where I wanted it to.
The story stays with the same formulaic layout that the previously 5 novels took. I loved the way things came back around to the start of the series, several different scenes and situations that started this whole adventure mirrored the end of it. It was amazing. I saw the plot twist coming from a mile away but that did not change my opinion on the overall story and still found myself engaged throughout the adventure. I thought the story/ series ended perfectly and I could not have imaged a better ending for the characters I grew to love. It was a bittersweet moment to see it end but I am hoping for new adventures that might be in store for all of these amazing characters.
For anyone who is considering starting this series I would hope you would at least give the first one a shot. If you make it to the end please be sure to read the ‘Postscript’ of Crownbreaker. And to Sabastien, thank you for writing an amazing series, and for the record, anything that may have been written in the Postscript, I’m taking as Canon.
“Because you’re my hero.”
“The world has no use for a trickster once the final trick is played.”
5.0/5.0 I just spent the last week wanting to know what happens, but not wanting it to end. It has been a poetically problematic week for me to be honest.
The character growth throughout the start of the series has been amazing. I am not going to name any characters here in fear of spoiling anything throughout the series, suffice it to say, I found many different characters development fantastic and happy the way the grew. This series really hooked me with a few key characters, and what can I say, other than it ended right where I wanted it to.
The story stays with the same formulaic layout that the previously 5 novels took. I loved the way things came back around to the start of the series, several different scenes and situations that started this whole adventure mirrored the end of it. It was amazing. I saw the plot twist coming from a mile away but that did not change my opinion on the overall story and still found myself engaged throughout the adventure. I thought the story/ series ended perfectly and I could not have imaged a better ending for the characters I grew to love. It was a bittersweet moment to see it end but I am hoping for new adventures that might be in store for all of these amazing characters.
For anyone who is considering starting this series I would hope you would at least give the first one a shot. If you make it to the end please be sure to read the ‘Postscript’ of Crownbreaker. And to Sabastien, thank you for writing an amazing series, and for the record, anything that may have been written in the Postscript, I’m taking as Canon.
“Because you’re my hero.”
November 14, 2019
Goodbye 👋
June 7, 2021
The perfect ending for a great fantasy series- full of laughter and wisdom and warm characters. Reichis still makes me laugh just as much as in the first book.
February 27, 2020
4.5 stars (when are they finally going to add that option!)
A lot of banter and just such a fun read, I'm definitely going to miss Reichis and his sidekick.
Sebastien really nailed it.
A lot of banter and just such a fun read, I'm definitely going to miss Reichis and his sidekick.
Sebastien really nailed it.
August 22, 2020
I’m a bit emotional 🥺🥺🥺
What an epic finale to one of the BEST YA Fantasy series out there. I love this world, the magic, the stories and it’s characters.
Reichis always, always the most 🥰🖤🥺
What an epic finale to one of the BEST YA Fantasy series out there. I love this world, the magic, the stories and it’s characters.
Reichis always, always the most 🥰🖤🥺
May 31, 2023
4.5 Stars - Easily the best in the series
Want to read
August 5, 2019Dammit, I have to wait til DECEMBER??
January 23, 2023
Book after book, this series manages to strike the perfect balance between unapologetically escapist swashbuckling fun and deeply emotional and thouching character dynamics.
I loved every minute of it and am incredibly sad to say goodbye to some of my all time favourite book characters. Good thing re-reading is always an option, right?
I loved every minute of it and am incredibly sad to say goodbye to some of my all time favourite book characters. Good thing re-reading is always an option, right?
December 19, 2019
I’ve never read a six-part series. It’s such an odd number of books to base your series around. But I guess it makes sense given this series is based around somebody known for not being exceptionally good at a great many things. Yes, he’s technically a mage, but he only has one good spell, five enchanted coins, and some knowledge of how magic works for others. And he’s not really a fighter, given that Argosi fighting relies on deception and evasion and tricks. But he’s also not an Argosi sage either, never quite learning all their teachings, lessons, and history.
Yes, Kellen “Path of Endless Stars” is the definition of Jack of All Trades, Master of None.
But, like he says, he’s really good at blowing things up—both literally and figuratively. He’s good at dismantling the institutions intent on preying on the weak, the nations intent on bloodshed over peace, good at point out the hypocrisy of leaders who’ve gotten too big at their britches. This book is basically Kellen’s big Fuck You to the Man and serves as his swan song as he pulls off his last Great Trick.
And, boy, is it the culmination of six books of juking and jiving, barely surviving and barely holding it together. Every friendship, betrayal, conversation, and condemnation leads to the craziest (yet inevitable) conclusion to this crazy kid’s life.
It is glorious and the perfect capper to a pretty good series of books.
Yes, Kellen “Path of Endless Stars” is the definition of Jack of All Trades, Master of None.
But, like he says, he’s really good at blowing things up—both literally and figuratively. He’s good at dismantling the institutions intent on preying on the weak, the nations intent on bloodshed over peace, good at point out the hypocrisy of leaders who’ve gotten too big at their britches. This book is basically Kellen’s big Fuck You to the Man and serves as his swan song as he pulls off his last Great Trick.
And, boy, is it the culmination of six books of juking and jiving, barely surviving and barely holding it together. Every friendship, betrayal, conversation, and condemnation leads to the craziest (yet inevitable) conclusion to this crazy kid’s life.
It is glorious and the perfect capper to a pretty good series of books.
October 9, 2024
*** 4.25 ***
This was a very satisfying ending to a nice coming of age Fantasy series. Our main character and his squirrel cat went through a lot, made a ton of bad choices, learned a lot, and even survived the previous book, which was probably the roughest of the lot.
I know this series has a lot of high and low points, but I am glad I read it and I would recommend it to Young Adult readers and the fans of these thematics. Sebastian de Castell does a really good job at letting us in the inner turmoil of a teenage young man, and although it's not always a pretty place, it is enchanting with its honesty, clumsy attractions, and the earnest desire to be the good guy in his own story! 😊👍
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you find what you need in the pages of a Good Book 📚📖📚!😀
This was a very satisfying ending to a nice coming of age Fantasy series. Our main character and his squirrel cat went through a lot, made a ton of bad choices, learned a lot, and even survived the previous book, which was probably the roughest of the lot.
I know this series has a lot of high and low points, but I am glad I read it and I would recommend it to Young Adult readers and the fans of these thematics. Sebastian de Castell does a really good job at letting us in the inner turmoil of a teenage young man, and although it's not always a pretty place, it is enchanting with its honesty, clumsy attractions, and the earnest desire to be the good guy in his own story! 😊👍
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you find what you need in the pages of a Good Book 📚📖📚!😀
January 13, 2020
I will be writing a proper review once I have time to absorb everything I experienced not just with this book, but with this series. From the beginning this series has been dear to my heart, as I received the first book, Spellslinger, from my brother and best friend, Paul. He gave me an amazing two year journey that I will forever cherish.
October 20, 2019
Fantastic final book! Very satisfying ending; a few things i guessed correctly and others were surprising. I loved watching Kellen mature and grow in many ways over the course of the series. Ferius is one of my all-time fave characters and was brilliantly written throughout. And as for Reichis, who doesn’t love a snarky, eyeball-eating squirrel cat?
January 12, 2020
perfect conclusion to this fun and nourishing series.
November 7, 2019
I am so sad to see this series end but it was so good! I am very happy with that ending.
March 10, 2020
Always rough to come to the end of a journey. I wasn't certain what to expect after de Castell finished the Greatcoats series and this series started, but after six books, I'm glad I went along for the ride. The series, which deviates from traditional fantasy by taking on an almost steampunky, Old West vibe, works through de Castell's brilliant characters and their relationships.
In this final go-round, the spellslinger Kellen finally has to step up and face down his father, a battle that has been coming for years. Gone is the boy who wanted to be a mage to please his parents, and instead we see the full Argosi, the Path of Endless Stars. There is no going back to the Jan'Tep oasis. Kellen's path no longer goes there. Thus, he's left with only one choice: victory or his life. '
I love de Castell's writing, and I love his view on heroics from guys who don't see themselves as heroes. I will miss Kellen and Ferius Parfax, but this was a fun ride. Maybe we'll see them all again down the line. Maybe we won't. Wherever they are, let's hope Kellen has enough tricks to get them out of whatever trouble they'll inevitably be in.
In this final go-round, the spellslinger Kellen finally has to step up and face down his father, a battle that has been coming for years. Gone is the boy who wanted to be a mage to please his parents, and instead we see the full Argosi, the Path of Endless Stars. There is no going back to the Jan'Tep oasis. Kellen's path no longer goes there. Thus, he's left with only one choice: victory or his life. '
I love de Castell's writing, and I love his view on heroics from guys who don't see themselves as heroes. I will miss Kellen and Ferius Parfax, but this was a fun ride. Maybe we'll see them all again down the line. Maybe we won't. Wherever they are, let's hope Kellen has enough tricks to get them out of whatever trouble they'll inevitably be in.
December 27, 2020
I love this series to bits. Kellen is endearing and Reichis despite his murderous disposition is quite adorable.
It is actually hard to let go of a book that has been with me for the better part of 2019. I am glad I discovered it when the series is almost coming to a close else waiting will be a torment.
I listened to the audiobook instead of reading it which made it in my opinion 100 times better. Joe Jameson is one talented chap. This partnership with De Castell is a match made in heaven. Reichis’ and Ferius voices were my personal favourite.
Love you guys and Thank you for a wonderful adventure.
It is actually hard to let go of a book that has been with me for the better part of 2019. I am glad I discovered it when the series is almost coming to a close else waiting will be a torment.
I listened to the audiobook instead of reading it which made it in my opinion 100 times better. Joe Jameson is one talented chap. This partnership with De Castell is a match made in heaven. Reichis’ and Ferius voices were my personal favourite.
Love you guys and Thank you for a wonderful adventure.
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