What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood of Kings #1
The Squire
When creatures that lurk in the dark dare to venture out into the world, lives are changed forever.
Conrad lives a quiet rural life with his parents in the Northlands. During one fated night, his world is turned on its head, as nightmares become reality. While his Northlands blood cries out for revenge, Conrad’s head tells him surviving is the best he can do.
Rescued by a motley band of mercenaries, Conrad embarks on a life he could have barely imagined –squire to the men who saved him. As new challenges, friends, and enemies present themselves, Conrad knows that one day he will have to face the evil that so altered his life, and when that day comes, he will need to be ready.
Conrad lives a quiet rural life with his parents in the Northlands. During one fated night, his world is turned on its head, as nightmares become reality. While his Northlands blood cries out for revenge, Conrad’s head tells him surviving is the best he can do.
Rescued by a motley band of mercenaries, Conrad embarks on a life he could have barely imagined –squire to the men who saved him. As new challenges, friends, and enemies present themselves, Conrad knows that one day he will have to face the evil that so altered his life, and when that day comes, he will need to be ready.
412 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2021
687 people are currently reading
3796 people want to read
About the author
Duncan M. Hamilton
26 books1,093 followersHi, thanks for visiting my page. I’m Duncan, a fantasy and science fiction author from Ireland. I love to blend my passion for Medieval and Renaissance history with the freedom of fantasy environments to create fast paced heroic fantasy adventures with compelling characters and high stakes—exactly the types of stories that I love to read, so I hope you’ll like them too.
You can find more of my online hangouts and my work at the links below. Don’t forget to sign up for my news letter if you want to keep up to date on all my news and new releases!
I’m delighted to announce my most recent trilogy with Tor, Dragonslayer - a heroic fantasy tale about redemption, revenge, and megalomania. Oh, and dragons. Plenty of dragons! The entire trilogy - Dragonslayer, Knight of the Silver Circle, and Servant of the Crown - is now out in the wild, and available to purchase. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
My next trilogy is already well under way, and I've a couple of new projects that occur in different worlds (and genres!) that I'm very excited about, and hope to start releasing this coming Spring 2021.If that’s too long to wait, then please check out my other books, all of which are currently available!
Society of the Sword
The Tattered Banner was one of Buzzfeed's 12 Greatest Fantasy Books of 2013!
In a world where magic is outlawed, ability with a sword is prized above all else. For Soren this means the chance to live out his dreams.
Plucked from a life of poverty, he is given a coveted place at Ostenheim's Academy of Swordsmanship, an opportunity beyond belief.
Opportunity is not always what it seems however, and gifts rarely come without conditions. Soren becomes an unwitting pawn in a game of intrigue and treachery that could cost him not just his dreams, but also his life.
Wolf of the North
It has been generations since the Northlands have seen a hero worthy of the title. Many have made the claim, but few have lived to defend it. Timid, weak, and bullied, Wulfric is as unlikely a candidate as there could be.
A chance encounter with an ancient and mysterious object awakens a latent gift, and Wulfric’s life changes course. Against a backdrop of war, tragedy, and an enemy whose hatred for him knows no bounds, Wulfric will be forged from a young boy, into the Wolf of the North. This is his tale.
If that’s not enough, I’ve a standalone novel, and some shorter work to give you a taste of what I write. You can get a free digital copy of the Marcher Lord if you sign up for my news letter!
You can find more of my online hangouts and my work at the links below. Don’t forget to sign up for my news letter if you want to keep up to date on all my news and new releases!
I’m delighted to announce my most recent trilogy with Tor, Dragonslayer - a heroic fantasy tale about redemption, revenge, and megalomania. Oh, and dragons. Plenty of dragons! The entire trilogy - Dragonslayer, Knight of the Silver Circle, and Servant of the Crown - is now out in the wild, and available to purchase. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
My next trilogy is already well under way, and I've a couple of new projects that occur in different worlds (and genres!) that I'm very excited about, and hope to start releasing this coming Spring 2021.If that’s too long to wait, then please check out my other books, all of which are currently available!
Society of the Sword
The Tattered Banner was one of Buzzfeed's 12 Greatest Fantasy Books of 2013!
In a world where magic is outlawed, ability with a sword is prized above all else. For Soren this means the chance to live out his dreams.
Plucked from a life of poverty, he is given a coveted place at Ostenheim's Academy of Swordsmanship, an opportunity beyond belief.
Opportunity is not always what it seems however, and gifts rarely come without conditions. Soren becomes an unwitting pawn in a game of intrigue and treachery that could cost him not just his dreams, but also his life.
Wolf of the North
It has been generations since the Northlands have seen a hero worthy of the title. Many have made the claim, but few have lived to defend it. Timid, weak, and bullied, Wulfric is as unlikely a candidate as there could be.
A chance encounter with an ancient and mysterious object awakens a latent gift, and Wulfric’s life changes course. Against a backdrop of war, tragedy, and an enemy whose hatred for him knows no bounds, Wulfric will be forged from a young boy, into the Wolf of the North. This is his tale.
If that’s not enough, I’ve a standalone novel, and some shorter work to give you a taste of what I write. You can get a free digital copy of the Marcher Lord if you sign up for my news letter!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
Read
April 27, 2021Not a review - just a placeholder where I can post some updates to keep you all informed of how things are progressing!
27-4-21 The Squire is out today! You can pick up a copy over at Amazon. I hope you enjoy it!
24-3-21 At last, I have the cover finalised! I hope you like it! The Squire will be out on 27 April!
14-3-21 I can't believe I've left it so long since updating! I've had some delays on the cover front hence no cover image up, but the book is long finished, and the ARCs have been sent out. Everything is still on track for an early April release!
18-12-20 I've just sent the draft of The Squire for its first proofread. I'm aiming for an April 2021 release, and so far everything is on track. I'm teaming up with the folks at Audible Studios for the audio on this trilogy. I'll share more details as soon as I have them!
27-4-21 The Squire is out today! You can pick up a copy over at Amazon. I hope you enjoy it!
24-3-21 At last, I have the cover finalised! I hope you like it! The Squire will be out on 27 April!
14-3-21 I can't believe I've left it so long since updating! I've had some delays on the cover front hence no cover image up, but the book is long finished, and the ARCs have been sent out. Everything is still on track for an early April release!
18-12-20 I've just sent the draft of The Squire for its first proofread. I'm aiming for an April 2021 release, and so far everything is on track. I'm teaming up with the folks at Audible Studios for the audio on this trilogy. I'll share more details as soon as I have them!
April 17, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and once I started it I couldn’t put it down, I was immediately drawn in the the story and the fate of the main characters and I just needed to know what was going to happen next. I like the cross overs into other books from the same author and how a bigger story is developing and that each series of books is a separate part of. So much so that I have gone back to the Wolf of the North series and started book 2 which has been sitting in my Kindle waiting to be read.
Without spoilers its a rollercoaster from the start for a young lad plucked from his normal life into a world outside of his village and taken under the wing of new friends where he learns new skills and more about himself as the story progresses.
Can’t wait for the next one!!
Without spoilers its a rollercoaster from the start for a young lad plucked from his normal life into a world outside of his village and taken under the wing of new friends where he learns new skills and more about himself as the story progresses.
Can’t wait for the next one!!
September 9, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Good story with a likeable cast. Some parts dragged a bit, but nothing too irksome. I may continue the series at some point, depending. After all, I need to discover how things turn out for Frau Blucher, er...dal Bluchen, and the crew.
Good story with a likeable cast. Some parts dragged a bit, but nothing too irksome. I may continue the series at some point, depending. After all, I need to discover how things turn out for Frau Blucher, er...dal Bluchen, and the crew.
March 15, 2021
I was given this as an ARC for an honest review, I will attempt to leave out any spoilers. For any Eddings fans there is a lot of familiarity with Garion, before the Bel part. The magic isn't as out there but in this first book centres more around amulets than anything else. Our main protagonist is Conrad, first introduced living in the Northlands with his family, at this stage you only know that he's not an adult but it isn't until later that you find out that he's only 12/13, so the reader should know that this is more a "coming of age" but not a young adult. No sex,no graphic fighting/death & as far as I can remember no profanity.
No great surprises & no plot twists that you are totally surprised by, although one of the "team" dying was unexpected. I did the feel that the academy could have been filled out a bit more, possibly not so much emphasis on the names for the numerous sword moves & positions - no idea if these are actually real! Or if you are going to then explain what each position is designed for, otherwise it's just a lot of names that sound french/italian.
Not sure how many are going to be in the series but my interest is piqued enough that I look forward to the next one.
No great surprises & no plot twists that you are totally surprised by, although one of the "team" dying was unexpected. I did the feel that the academy could have been filled out a bit more, possibly not so much emphasis on the names for the numerous sword moves & positions - no idea if these are actually real! Or if you are going to then explain what each position is designed for, otherwise it's just a lot of names that sound french/italian.
Not sure how many are going to be in the series but my interest is piqued enough that I look forward to the next one.
June 13, 2024
Seriously so excited any time I get one of these arcs. I love Hamilton’s books and although I did not connect as well to this main character as I have his other older ones I really liked his story and am excited to get more from middle sea. I think the magic system is interesting and the side characters play really well. Older soldiers who have lots to teach and rough edges, will definitely read the rest and look forward to the next book eagerly.
June 16, 2021
Slow going
Slow book. Starts strong with a bit of action, although it’s very trope heavy. Then it’s just plods forever, especially when it becomes a school based book with our young protagonist. Again, almost painfully trope ridden.
The characters have some potential, but remain mostly flat.
You kind of expect it with a coming of age book but this was a bit much.
It was a dnf for me at 60%.
Slow book. Starts strong with a bit of action, although it’s very trope heavy. Then it’s just plods forever, especially when it becomes a school based book with our young protagonist. Again, almost painfully trope ridden.
The characters have some potential, but remain mostly flat.
You kind of expect it with a coming of age book but this was a bit much.
It was a dnf for me at 60%.
March 12, 2021
It is set in the same world as Society of the Sword and Wolf of the North series, combining some elements of each. Magic is really coming to the forefront in this series. There are a lot of questions raised and a lot of mystery in this book. You get enough information and answers to want more. I read the book over the course of two (very long) evenings. Once I started it was hard to stop. The wait for book 2 is going to be agonizing. Overall it was a very enjoyable and entertaining book, opening the door to what all is to come.
I received an ARC.
I received an ARC.
March 17, 2021
This story had everything I was looking for in a fantasy novel!
Magic - check!
Draugr - check!
Coming of age Hero - check!
Mystery - check!
Nice world building - check!
Good supporting characters - check!
Page-turning plot - check!
Honestly, the only thing I didn't like about this book is the sequel is not available yet.
I was given this as an ARC for an honest review and read it with great pleasure and thanks.
Magic - check!
Draugr - check!
Coming of age Hero - check!
Mystery - check!
Nice world building - check!
Good supporting characters - check!
Page-turning plot - check!
Honestly, the only thing I didn't like about this book is the sequel is not available yet.
I was given this as an ARC for an honest review and read it with great pleasure and thanks.
April 16, 2021
I read “The Squire” as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy).
The story hooks you from the very beginning. Without giving away any spoilers, the world of touches on magic, monsters, gods and royalty. As the story progresses, some questions are answered while more are posed, enticing the reader to turn the page. I am looking forward to the next book of the series.
The story hooks you from the very beginning. Without giving away any spoilers, the world of touches on magic, monsters, gods and royalty. As the story progresses, some questions are answered while more are posed, enticing the reader to turn the page. I am looking forward to the next book of the series.
April 14, 2021
Another great story in Duncan's exciting adventure driven world. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading what's coming up next in the series. I love the multiverse he is creating with his novels and how they all connect in one way or another. It gives a sense of familiarity when you pick up a new book.
April 13, 2021
Another great story, further expanding Hamilton's world with more wonderful characters, dangerous magic, and plenty of twists. I love the nuggets of familiarity with his other books, reminding me that this fun and imaginative world deserves not only the expansion Hamilton is giving it with every new story, but also revisiting the originals every once in a while. It's time to dust off The Wolf of the North and start again while I patiently wait for the next in the Blood of Kings series!
June 24, 2022
Another good set up for a bigger story here. Felt like one part of a bigger book and not a complete story in its own right.
I’ve already started number two so that tells you all you need to know really.
I’ve already started number two so that tells you all you need to know really.
April 7, 2021
One of the most enjoyable things about this book is that it continues to add to the Middle Sea world without getting bogged down in trying to connect one trilogy to every other one. In a wonderful approach to world-building, there is enough fan-service to touch on favorite characters and events from other books, and plenty of depth added to the lore of the common world, but a new reader could start here as easily as they could the first books in the other trilogies.
Beyond this, the story flows quickly and keeps you turning page after page until you run out of pages and are left waiting for the next book in the trilogy. Another excellent addition to the fantasy genre.
Beyond this, the story flows quickly and keeps you turning page after page until you run out of pages and are left waiting for the next book in the trilogy. Another excellent addition to the fantasy genre.
April 2, 2021
I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC. Thanks again, Duncan. The Squire
I thoroughly enjoyed being drawn into the adventures (and misadventures) of the small band of mismatched mercenaries and Conrad, the young farm boy they saved.
With thoroughly relatable characters; vivid descriptions of lands, animals, people, and environments; combined with a wonderful story and sub-plots that will keep you guessing, I highly recommend this tale to everyone.
Can't wait for the next instalment, Duncan.
I thoroughly enjoyed being drawn into the adventures (and misadventures) of the small band of mismatched mercenaries and Conrad, the young farm boy they saved.
With thoroughly relatable characters; vivid descriptions of lands, animals, people, and environments; combined with a wonderful story and sub-plots that will keep you guessing, I highly recommend this tale to everyone.
Can't wait for the next instalment, Duncan.
March 15, 2021
The story is told by Conrad, the boy from the North whose parents are killed by a demon. His encounter with that demon shapes his future in multiple ways.
Luckily for Conrad he is rescued and adopted by a passing group of banneret mercenaries who are trying to earn a living. After taking them under their wing he starts to learn how to be a warrior.
The mercenaries are honest, good fighters but somewhat inept, and end up being shunted between employers on jobs that go wrong , until they end up working for a princess.
Between his pre-training to be a banneret, Conrad joins the mercenaries through various adventures as his part in the rise of the demons and their symbols becomes clear.
And the it ends on a cliffhanger, awaiting the next book in the series...
Luckily for Conrad he is rescued and adopted by a passing group of banneret mercenaries who are trying to earn a living. After taking them under their wing he starts to learn how to be a warrior.
The mercenaries are honest, good fighters but somewhat inept, and end up being shunted between employers on jobs that go wrong , until they end up working for a princess.
Between his pre-training to be a banneret, Conrad joins the mercenaries through various adventures as his part in the rise of the demons and their symbols becomes clear.
And the it ends on a cliffhanger, awaiting the next book in the series...
March 28, 2021
5 stars all the way for this latest novel, I was enthralled from the start to the end, I really connected with the characters and the plot and cannot wait to find out what happens next for Conrad and the group.
The Squire is a book to lose yourself in, for me it was like watching a film in my mind that I did not want to end. Its a coming of age story for Conrad, secrets hidden in the past coming back to haunt the future, sword fighting, demons and magic all combined in the best of ways and not as you might expect I highly recommend giving this a read.
The Squire is a book to lose yourself in, for me it was like watching a film in my mind that I did not want to end. Its a coming of age story for Conrad, secrets hidden in the past coming back to haunt the future, sword fighting, demons and magic all combined in the best of ways and not as you might expect I highly recommend giving this a read.
April 17, 2022
The Squier
An excellent ride from start to finish.
Coming-of-age story that has demons?
Medallion that makes the user get his way all the time!
Great characters à la Alexandra Dumas in my opinion.
It’s an easy simple read where there’s a mystery to solve ….demons to conquer ..and childhood bullying to boot.
This can be considered a pallet cleanser.
I give this 4.5 stars The Squire: Duncan M Hamilton
An excellent ride from start to finish.
Coming-of-age story that has demons?
Medallion that makes the user get his way all the time!
Great characters à la Alexandra Dumas in my opinion.
It’s an easy simple read where there’s a mystery to solve ….demons to conquer ..and childhood bullying to boot.
This can be considered a pallet cleanser.
I give this 4.5 stars The Squire: Duncan M Hamilton
March 17, 2021
Another exceptional book by Duncan!! I love reading his books as the characters are very relatable and I can’t put the book down once I start. I was happy to return to northlands where his other series take place. This is another must read and I can’t wait for book #2!
August 23, 2021
[ Rating 4.5 out of 5 ] The Squire was a great read! The stunning cover is just the start of this new, stirring adventure by Duncan M. Hamilton!
A few familiar names and places from past trilogies are mentioned, which was fun to finally be able to start recognizing even if I don’t know the significance yet. It makes me wonder if at some point everything will come together for a big showdown to save the world.
I sympathize with Conrad’s struggles. His whole world is turned upside down in one night. After being rescued by a very likable, good-natured group of people, he’s quickly forced to grow up and adapt in order to survive. Their travels eventually take them to southern lands where Conrad’s world view expands further than he ever could have imagined. The society and culture are significantly different from where he came from.
Between assimilating, proving his worth, becoming stronger, and dealing with a bully, this 12 year old farmer’s son has a daunting, challenging journey ahead of him. I like his drive to learn even if it is equal parts willingness and reluctance.
Conrad is a mystery but his actions and reactions felt authentic for someone like him. His age and inexperience showed a lot – sometimes in worrisome, anxiety inducing ways – so I wondered about his true purpose within the story and as the main character. I do think that every obstacle faced and hard truth he learned were huge learning experiences that will serve him well in the next book. That he’ll be one step closer towards his desire to be useful, to be able to defend himself, and collect on his blood debt.
The pacing of the story is slow going, at times dull but way more often exciting and suspenseful. Everyone is on edge by the possible threat of centuries old myths actually turning out to be real. The last 40ish pages had me on the edge of my seat! I was so wowed and mad by the way it ended because I wanted book 2 right then and there. The Squire was a successful start to a new series.
A few familiar names and places from past trilogies are mentioned, which was fun to finally be able to start recognizing even if I don’t know the significance yet. It makes me wonder if at some point everything will come together for a big showdown to save the world.
I sympathize with Conrad’s struggles. His whole world is turned upside down in one night. After being rescued by a very likable, good-natured group of people, he’s quickly forced to grow up and adapt in order to survive. Their travels eventually take them to southern lands where Conrad’s world view expands further than he ever could have imagined. The society and culture are significantly different from where he came from.
Between assimilating, proving his worth, becoming stronger, and dealing with a bully, this 12 year old farmer’s son has a daunting, challenging journey ahead of him. I like his drive to learn even if it is equal parts willingness and reluctance.
Conrad is a mystery but his actions and reactions felt authentic for someone like him. His age and inexperience showed a lot – sometimes in worrisome, anxiety inducing ways – so I wondered about his true purpose within the story and as the main character. I do think that every obstacle faced and hard truth he learned were huge learning experiences that will serve him well in the next book. That he’ll be one step closer towards his desire to be useful, to be able to defend himself, and collect on his blood debt.
The pacing of the story is slow going, at times dull but way more often exciting and suspenseful. Everyone is on edge by the possible threat of centuries old myths actually turning out to be real. The last 40ish pages had me on the edge of my seat! I was so wowed and mad by the way it ended because I wanted book 2 right then and there. The Squire was a successful start to a new series.
December 25, 2021
3.75 Stars 🌟
I have to say that I've only read one other series by this author, but I REALLY liked it so I came into this with pretty high expectations. I listened to this almost completely on audio. For some reason, the pacing was EXTREMELY slow in the beginning and I think I stopped and started it several times before I felt like I was really into the story.
I liked the main character Conrad. He is just a boy when we meet him but he is lucky enough to be saved by a decent group of soldiers...mercenaries...not really sure what they were (we find out later but in the beginning the reader is clueless) Conrad's family is killed by things out of a nightmare and Conrad is lucky to be alive....or is he?
This is one of those books where it seems as if the hero is going to turn out to be someone famous, or someone with super secret/special powers, but no one is aware of that and they haven't yet developed.
The book ended really weirdly (is that a word?) I actually ended up replaying the entire last chapter because I thought I missed something. It was like the author was in the middle of a paragraph and just said..."okay, enough for this book, I'll continue this in the next book" Or, at least that what it felt like to me.
Did I like this book enough to continue the series? Yes, I definitely will be going forward when the next book comes out. Yes, it started off slow. Yes, the pacing was sometimes hit or miss, but what was awesome was the character development and for me - that is what makes or breaks a story. I LIKED Conrad, I liked the group of men that he is traveling with. The last third of the book made up for the first two thirds, so it was easier to forgive the beginning.
I'm looking forward to seeing what is going to happen next for our young Conrad.
Yep...I think this series is going to end up being quite fun.
I have to say that I've only read one other series by this author, but I REALLY liked it so I came into this with pretty high expectations. I listened to this almost completely on audio. For some reason, the pacing was EXTREMELY slow in the beginning and I think I stopped and started it several times before I felt like I was really into the story.
I liked the main character Conrad. He is just a boy when we meet him but he is lucky enough to be saved by a decent group of soldiers...mercenaries...not really sure what they were (we find out later but in the beginning the reader is clueless) Conrad's family is killed by things out of a nightmare and Conrad is lucky to be alive....or is he?
This is one of those books where it seems as if the hero is going to turn out to be someone famous, or someone with super secret/special powers, but no one is aware of that and they haven't yet developed.
The book ended really weirdly (is that a word?) I actually ended up replaying the entire last chapter because I thought I missed something. It was like the author was in the middle of a paragraph and just said..."okay, enough for this book, I'll continue this in the next book" Or, at least that what it felt like to me.
Did I like this book enough to continue the series? Yes, I definitely will be going forward when the next book comes out. Yes, it started off slow. Yes, the pacing was sometimes hit or miss, but what was awesome was the character development and for me - that is what makes or breaks a story. I LIKED Conrad, I liked the group of men that he is traveling with. The last third of the book made up for the first two thirds, so it was easier to forgive the beginning.
I'm looking forward to seeing what is going to happen next for our young Conrad.
Yep...I think this series is going to end up being quite fun.
May 26, 2021
An enjoyable fantasy romp.
As a fan of medieval fantasy but one who hasn't read an extraordinaire amount of books in the genre, this one I found enjoyable, if not truly great.
The book has a good amount of action, character development for the protagonist and just a little bit for the rest of the cast. The best part of the book is Conrad, the protagonist. The narrative really gets you invested in his journey from a young boy with dreams of being a warrior to a Squire who has to constantly be aware of his limitations. I found him likable and his growth is endearing and interesting.
Some of the book's weaknesses might be that it lacked some big emotional moments (with some exceptions) and its twists rarely surprised me too much. I also disliked that we don't get to know too much about the cast of characters aside from the protagonist. What little we get is good, but not enough. It feels like wasted potential.
To give an analogy, I feel this book might be a bit like comfort food: you don't expect an explosion of flavor or anything truly new for your palate, but it's good stuff that you've enjoyed for years. If you enjoy the usual tropes that come with this genre, you'll probably have a good time but don't expect a masterpiece.
4/5
As a fan of medieval fantasy but one who hasn't read an extraordinaire amount of books in the genre, this one I found enjoyable, if not truly great.
The book has a good amount of action, character development for the protagonist and just a little bit for the rest of the cast. The best part of the book is Conrad, the protagonist. The narrative really gets you invested in his journey from a young boy with dreams of being a warrior to a Squire who has to constantly be aware of his limitations. I found him likable and his growth is endearing and interesting.
Some of the book's weaknesses might be that it lacked some big emotional moments (with some exceptions) and its twists rarely surprised me too much. I also disliked that we don't get to know too much about the cast of characters aside from the protagonist. What little we get is good, but not enough. It feels like wasted potential.
To give an analogy, I feel this book might be a bit like comfort food: you don't expect an explosion of flavor or anything truly new for your palate, but it's good stuff that you've enjoyed for years. If you enjoy the usual tropes that come with this genre, you'll probably have a good time but don't expect a masterpiece.
4/5
July 19, 2022
The characters were pretty good and had enough distinction in personality to make most of them at least somewhat interesting I have to say on the fantasy scale this falls I can see someone in the middle it’s not the best fantasy book I ever read but it’s far from the worst it is a time spoon feed you a little bit on the narrative in that can get a little tire some but not horribly to the point of exhaustion if you’re looking for a new fantasy series you could do a lot worse but you could also do better.
July 2, 2024
I really liked this, I have been stating before that I feel Duncan Hamilton is something like the spiritual successor to Alexandre Dumas, if you are looking for young men seeking their luck while engaged in sword fighting, you can't go wrong with Hamilton. In this novel he heavily blends emerging magic into his well established world. The sword fighting was still a bit lackluster, but I give him a pass, after all his main character is only a squire yet.
August 10, 2021
I think Hamilton might be my favorite modern fantasy writer, from a purely fun standpoint. All of his books have been fast-paced and entertaining and I dig that he's been slowly building his shared universe bit by bit through his different trilogies and series, each focusing more or less around one of the nations that rose up the fallen Empire after the Mage Wars. In a sense, the trilogy that starts here is simultaneously a sequel to all of the individual sub-series since it picks up some plot points about magic returning and its implications that were already established in earlier books, and some of the characters return in minor roles, or the events of other books are mentioned, since this one is chronologically the most "recent" of the stories, which I enjoyed since I remember wanting to know what happened next when the other trilogies ended and some of the plot points remained unresolved.
Another way this one is sort of a sequel to all the others is that the main cast is composed of a small band of swordsmen from pretty much all of the nations we've seen so far who accidentally find themselves involved in some strange stuff and hired by the Princess Alys of Ruripathia to work with one of her Intelligenciers to uncover a plot against the crown that seems to involve dark magic, though the main character is Conrad, the titular squire, whom the group's leader takes into his service after they rescue the boy, but sadly not before he's orphaned by what seem to be demons.
By the end of the novel some mysteries have been uncovered but who we thought was the main bad guy turned out to be a partly-unwitting pawn of the real bad guys, and we sadly lost one of the main characters, so I'm hyped for the next two books in the series. Once they come out, that is. I think it's the first time I've had to wait for the next volume to come out when reading a book by this author, since I started reading him fairly recently.
In the meantime, I'll give the author's sole sci-fi novel a try. I've really enjoyed everything else he's done and by this time I've read three trilogies, one stand-alone novel, two short stories and this first volume in a new trilogy, so that's a pretty good batting record. His work reminds me of David Gemmel, actually, and that's a very good thing.
Another way this one is sort of a sequel to all the others is that the main cast is composed of a small band of swordsmen from pretty much all of the nations we've seen so far who accidentally find themselves involved in some strange stuff and hired by the Princess Alys of Ruripathia to work with one of her Intelligenciers to uncover a plot against the crown that seems to involve dark magic, though the main character is Conrad, the titular squire, whom the group's leader takes into his service after they rescue the boy, but sadly not before he's orphaned by what seem to be demons.
By the end of the novel some mysteries have been uncovered but who we thought was the main bad guy turned out to be a partly-unwitting pawn of the real bad guys, and we sadly lost one of the main characters, so I'm hyped for the next two books in the series. Once they come out, that is. I think it's the first time I've had to wait for the next volume to come out when reading a book by this author, since I started reading him fairly recently.
In the meantime, I'll give the author's sole sci-fi novel a try. I've really enjoyed everything else he's done and by this time I've read three trilogies, one stand-alone novel, two short stories and this first volume in a new trilogy, so that's a pretty good batting record. His work reminds me of David Gemmel, actually, and that's a very good thing.
Read
April 13, 2021 Brilliantly constructed a wonderful story line and really well written - I highly recommend The Squire to any reader.
December 20, 2022
Having been a fan of Hamilton’s DRAGONSLAYER books, when I saw the author was starting a new fantasy series, I thought I would give it a shot; and, I came away feeling like it was pretty much what I expected: a good steady fantasy story.
If you have read any of Hamilton’s books, you will know what I mean by that. He is a good writer who knows how to make a narrative work. His books are not usually super epic, and written in a style of more traditional fantasy.
I say that all to tell you that I enjoyed reading it. Following along with Conrad while he is trailing a group of mercenaries and leering the life of a warrior was an enjoyable experience. It was just the right amount of action/adventure/conflict to go with periods of character development and world building (though, that was fairly minimal) to keep the pace and intrigue at a level where I wanted to keep reading.
THE SQUIRE is a good read, especially if you are looking for a break from the huge epic fantasy stories you have been reading all year (points to self).
If you have read any of Hamilton’s books, you will know what I mean by that. He is a good writer who knows how to make a narrative work. His books are not usually super epic, and written in a style of more traditional fantasy.
I say that all to tell you that I enjoyed reading it. Following along with Conrad while he is trailing a group of mercenaries and leering the life of a warrior was an enjoyable experience. It was just the right amount of action/adventure/conflict to go with periods of character development and world building (though, that was fairly minimal) to keep the pace and intrigue at a level where I wanted to keep reading.
THE SQUIRE is a good read, especially if you are looking for a break from the huge epic fantasy stories you have been reading all year (points to self).
July 14, 2021
This is pretty much the opposite of what I personally like to read.
I dislike the idea of breaking stuff down and complaining about all the things I did not like so I won't.
It´s not like I write any books myself so who am I to judge. I do read quite a lot of them, tho.
This is how this author writes and tells stories and judging by the 4 point something stars a great many people enjoy this style.
I call this style "Naive Fantasy" since it´s always about a young boy born into another class who dreams about being something else and gets caught up in an attack which then ultimately will lead to said boy becoming something immensely powerful. I simply have read far too many of this type of book and cannot be bothered to read yet another. From Feists Magician to Jordans Wheel of Time this just felt more of the same. I may be terribly unfair here since I only read nine percent but the story gripped me as weakly as a man with broken wrists trying to strangle a bodybuilder. or a Hen. or a Bodybuilders hen.
I never got into the book and after about ten percent of it I felt that the likelihood of it going anywhere near the type of story that could hold my interest was null. So I did the merciful thing and chucked it on the pile of the other nine million "Boy-finds-magic-sword-in-a-bucket-in-a-barn-books currently taking up storage space on my Kindle.
I am off hunting a book to read again. The title really should have put me off but I am ever the optimist.
I dislike the idea of breaking stuff down and complaining about all the things I did not like so I won't.
It´s not like I write any books myself so who am I to judge. I do read quite a lot of them, tho.
This is how this author writes and tells stories and judging by the 4 point something stars a great many people enjoy this style.
I call this style "Naive Fantasy" since it´s always about a young boy born into another class who dreams about being something else and gets caught up in an attack which then ultimately will lead to said boy becoming something immensely powerful. I simply have read far too many of this type of book and cannot be bothered to read yet another. From Feists Magician to Jordans Wheel of Time this just felt more of the same. I may be terribly unfair here since I only read nine percent but the story gripped me as weakly as a man with broken wrists trying to strangle a bodybuilder. or a Hen. or a Bodybuilders hen.
I never got into the book and after about ten percent of it I felt that the likelihood of it going anywhere near the type of story that could hold my interest was null. So I did the merciful thing and chucked it on the pile of the other nine million "Boy-finds-magic-sword-in-a-bucket-in-a-barn-books currently taking up storage space on my Kindle.
I am off hunting a book to read again. The title really should have put me off but I am ever the optimist.
March 21, 2021
First of all, I love that this book is set in the same world as the previous books of the time frame. Such a great world filled with excellent detail. Some spoilers here but not too many.
The focus on Conrad, a farm boy, and not the bannerettes or royalty made me wonder if the kid was a witness to everything that will and did happen, or is central to the story. That gets clarified towards the end of this book, but also leaves us wanting to know more about the group that Conrad rolls with. I didn’t feel there was any real deep development with the four banneretes or Heidi, who are all really interesting characters.
Of course the lack of development has to do with this being book 1 of a series, so I ain’t even mad. It’s a fantastic story, and the pace is always moving forward. It’s also a meaty book with plenty of pages to devour...the best kind.
The baddies have appeared before in other books by Hamilton, but by different names. A nice bit of attention to detail being that each series touches on different countries and regions and each culture calls the same monsters by different names. Lots of death and loss in this book, so get that handkerchief ready.
Duncan Hamilton knows how to tell a tale the right way and I was fortunate to have gotten an advanced readers copy early on. My sincere thanks, and hats off to an amazing storyteller.
The focus on Conrad, a farm boy, and not the bannerettes or royalty made me wonder if the kid was a witness to everything that will and did happen, or is central to the story. That gets clarified towards the end of this book, but also leaves us wanting to know more about the group that Conrad rolls with. I didn’t feel there was any real deep development with the four banneretes or Heidi, who are all really interesting characters.
Of course the lack of development has to do with this being book 1 of a series, so I ain’t even mad. It’s a fantastic story, and the pace is always moving forward. It’s also a meaty book with plenty of pages to devour...the best kind.
The baddies have appeared before in other books by Hamilton, but by different names. A nice bit of attention to detail being that each series touches on different countries and regions and each culture calls the same monsters by different names. Lots of death and loss in this book, so get that handkerchief ready.
Duncan Hamilton knows how to tell a tale the right way and I was fortunate to have gotten an advanced readers copy early on. My sincere thanks, and hats off to an amazing storyteller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2021
I received this book as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy).
As with all of Duncan's boks this really draws you into the world where the majority of Duncan's books are set.
From the get-go we see links to his previous books, but no prior reading is required.
The tale follows a young man who is dropped into a world he is completely unprepared for yet determined to give a good accounting of himself; motivated by his desire to be useful to the people who saved him and to eventually get his revenge.
The story is fast paced and draws you in, as with the authors other works you tend to keep reading until you're done.
Then all that's left is to await the release of the next book in the series.
As with all of Duncan's boks this really draws you into the world where the majority of Duncan's books are set.
From the get-go we see links to his previous books, but no prior reading is required.
The tale follows a young man who is dropped into a world he is completely unprepared for yet determined to give a good accounting of himself; motivated by his desire to be useful to the people who saved him and to eventually get his revenge.
The story is fast paced and draws you in, as with the authors other works you tend to keep reading until you're done.
Then all that's left is to await the release of the next book in the series.
April 27, 2021
I was given this book for an honest review. The first few chapters nearly drove me to give this book 3 stars. I felt like I was in quick sand trying to move yet stuck in the same spot. Duncan is very descriptive in all his stories. Especially at the beginning and I like a little dialogue inserted to hook me in more. But in all, the descriptions were necessary to set up this book and maybe the sequels too.
The characters are great and there is a loss that was sad but I think if there was more interaction between the main character and the deceased it would have tugged at the heart strings more.
A lot of creativity, a rich plot, and a beautiful thought out fantasy land. Duncan never leaves you wondering what the scenery and surroundings look like. He’s very descriptive.
I would definitely recommend this book. I love when an author uses words that I have to look up in the dictionary. It adds to the mystery of the plot. I enjoyed the characters and the faces they wore. They had a soft and compassionate side and then a “don’t mess with me side.” One part that I was ecstatic about was bringing in characters from his other books.
I gave this book a 4 but it was really a 4.7. I can’t wait to read the next one! (Is this what the actual cover will look like?)
The characters are great and there is a loss that was sad but I think if there was more interaction between the main character and the deceased it would have tugged at the heart strings more.
A lot of creativity, a rich plot, and a beautiful thought out fantasy land. Duncan never leaves you wondering what the scenery and surroundings look like. He’s very descriptive.
I would definitely recommend this book. I love when an author uses words that I have to look up in the dictionary. It adds to the mystery of the plot. I enjoyed the characters and the faces they wore. They had a soft and compassionate side and then a “don’t mess with me side.” One part that I was ecstatic about was bringing in characters from his other books.
I gave this book a 4 but it was really a 4.7. I can’t wait to read the next one! (Is this what the actual cover will look like?)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews