The Swordsman's Intent

The Royal Champion #0.5

by G.M. White

The last competition Belasko won was the catch a slippery pig contest at his village fair.

Now he has to beat the best warriors in the kingdom.

Belasko, a farm boy who ran away to war, is a decorated soldier and war hero with a good military career ahead of him. When Markus, champion to the king of Villan, summons Belasko to take part in the competition to choose his successor, a world of possibility opens up to him. Possibility that Belasko cannot resist. In order to take the mantle of champion, and rise to one of the highest positions in the Villanese court, Belasko must prove himself yet further against the finest blades in the kingdom. Against warriors from all walks of life. From those who have had access to the best fencing instructors money can buy, to fellow career soldiers, he must best them all. Including a young noble named Ervan with whom his fate will be intertwined. Only by working hard alongside newfound friends and foes, pushing himself to the limit, and putting everything on the line, can Belasko fulfil his potential and become the first commoner to claim the title of Royal Champion.

Set fifteen years before The Swordsman’s Lament, this novella sets in motion both the events of that novel and Belasko’s destiny.

Genres: Fantasy, Novella, Adult

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2022

About the author

G.M. White has always been an avid reader, a love of the written word instilled in him by his parents at an early age. This may or may not have something to do with the fact that he was a very talkative child and the only time he was quiet was when he had his head in a book. Anyway, we'll give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.

A lifelong daydreamer he finally decided to put his imagination to good use and set pen to paper (well, fingers to keyboard) and started to write down the worlds that he carried with him in his head. The Swordsman's Lament is his first novel.

He has also had the typical author's chequered job history. He has been at various times an actor, a performer at The London Dungeons, a theatre usher and box office clerk, a ticketing systems specialist working at the Ambassador Theatre Group, National Theatre, and Royal Albert Hall, and played drums in a variety of rock bands.

After thirteen years living and working in London he and his wife gave up the rat race, and moved to St. Martin's in the Isles of Scilly, where they continue to live.

You can find him online and sign up to his newsletter at https://gmwhite.co.uk

Reviews

[Dom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good little novella in terms of introducing the reader to the characters and events of this world, and of course to the writing style as well. Although I didn't really get the Greatcoats vibe that I'd been told to expect, that was specifically in regards to The Swordsman's Lament, so I'll wait to see what that brings me.

Here we get an origin story in terms of Belasko becoming the Royal Champion, but there's still more backstory to him, some of which we also hear of here. The story in this novella is quite self-contained, there's not a vast amount of exploration or anything like that, but it is still enjoyable and looks like it will be a good introduction to The Swordsman's Lament, which I will hopefully very much enjoy as well.

[M. Vess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome prequel novella!

This is the prequel novella to The Swordsman’s Lament. It’s the story of Belasco and a handful of others as they train and compete to be chosen as the Royal Champion of Villan. I really enjoyed this tale. It’s well written, with great action and surprisingly deep character developement. It’s great for setting the stage if you haven’t read Swordsman’s Lament, and a really fun way to get more backstory if you already have.

[Rowena Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A prequel novella that will certainly see me picking up 'The Swordsman's Lament.' Well written, with great fight scene - and I liked the escalation from basic training, to more complicated maneuvers and then the duels. The characters were fantastic, and there was a surprising amount of character development for such a short book. A quick, entertaining read that hooked me in from the beginning.

[Jamedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Score: 4.25 out of 5 stars

This is a little novella, which acts as the prequel for The Swordman's Lament, and which can be described as a really good introduction to the characters and to the background.

During this book, we follow the process of how Belasko becomes the Royal Champion, while also being presented with some of the characters that will appear in further books. Despite being short, it does a great job introducing the world in a sort of microcosmos, focusing on this small training - contest that will crown the successor of Markus, the old Royal Champion.

The swordsmanship scenes are really well written, taking also a nice progression from the basics to most complex fights, helping the reader to introduce itself in how the swordfight works and adding small tips that later will be relevant. The relationships between Belasko and his mates will also take a fundamental spotlight there, and even being short, it also foreshadows the rift between noblesse and commoners.

A nice introduction to this low fantasy world, very well written, and which left us with a ton of desire to go into The Swordman's Lament.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much packed into a short novella! I’m definitely intrigued with this story. The characters were given distinct personalities and a good plot was presented. I thought the author did a great job of setting up the forthcoming books with this brief story.

“It is in some ways what matters above all else, even skill. The swordsman’s intent. Kill or be killed.”

[Runalong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great origin story style novella full of good characters and sword fighting - great fun

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[Alyssa (HeartwyldsLibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read and one that while being short managed to keep my attention the whole way through. This novella focuses more on introducing you to the characters, some of whom we can guess will be important key players in later installments.

There isn't a lot of world building but it wasn't necessary for this story as its clear the intent was not to dive into that portion of the story telling. There was small amounts, enough to establish a world and get a general feeling of how it works, but it was left with plenty of room to expand on in further installments, just enough was dropped to make someone want to learn more about it, so I hope the world building does get expanded.

The characters as a whole are decent, none of them really standout at the moment but it was only 86 pages of story so they have the starts of being very intriguing characters and I have an urge to follow them some more. I will say I do love how we learn the origins of a certain character whom I am hoping is going to be a "villain" later on, I am very intrigued to see where his storyline goes.

There isn't much action in this but one must keep the length in mind, so what was there was short but still inciting enough to keep my attention and hope for possibly longer action scenes. My only issue and this is an absolute personal thing, is I am not fond of fencing style battles or fencing in general, but again that is a personal thing so if fencing is something you are into then this right up your alley. And even though its not a fighting style I prefer I still am going to continue the series because I do think it was executed well.

I'm intrigued to see where this goes next as I know this a prequel set quite some number of years before the next installment. Its a very good solid quick introduction to a new world and new characters and holds a lot of potential.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Royal Champion puts on a masterclass in swordsmanship with the twenty best fighters in the land. Class distinctions become immediately apparent. The sons of courtiers have had lessons from the best fencing masters in the land but never faced mortal combat; the soldiers in the group have and many of them are farm boys who ran away to join the army. The eventually winner is telegraphed from the beginning but his master makes clear to him the price to be paid if he succeeds as Royal Champion. A farm boy at court has much to learn. One of his fellow trainees is a female as is the commander of the City Watch.

Belasko’s humility proves that he has not let fame go to his head. His noble opponent Ervan may have skill but he seems too full of himself even over-confident and is definitely a sore loser. He is also a mama's boy whose dam is not above interfering on his behalf.

This is one case where I will definitely want to read the follow-up books.

[Jamie Edmundson]

A prequel to the Royal Champion series.

This was a good read, quite refreshing since it focused on the recruitment of a martial champion for the king so was small scale with no magic elements. It was well written and story wise suggests the main series is a solid Young Adult style fantasy read.
My only negative was that it was quite a simple story and so seemed a bit longer than was necessary; but I assume there was some character and worldbuilding the author wanted to establish for the main series.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This prequel to The Swordman's Lament is set fifteen years earlier and details the event that led up to Belasko becoming the Royal Champion.

Though being a concise story, all the characters introduced in it have well-defined personalities, which together with a well-structured plot make this a quick and entertaining read.

[Jeffrey A. Dewey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Interesting read and storyline with the background building of characters and life within the realm and the kingdom 's guardian

[Lag · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novella is well written and a good lead-in into the series of the Swordsman Lament. The action is quick and the story moves very fast.

[Tom Britton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-1/2 stars . Should wrote this before the first book . I’ll thought interesting how become the sword 🗡 Champion .
Pleasant break from typical fantasy of elves extra . Plus lots of sword fighting

[MasterSal]

May 2022

As seen on Domish_Books channel … the cover looks so pretty. Still have to read the Greatcoats before this though

[Chelley Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect set up novella, ready to jump into book one and Ervan is trash. Smh. I can tell here going to annoy tf out of me.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of how Belasko became the man he later becomes.
Very good characters and this is what we get to see the swashbuckling man start his journey.
Great book.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a good short story of fencers training to be the next champion of the kingdom, I don’t feel compelled to continue the series but I thought the writing was good.

[Walter Critz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly engrossing story you will not be able to put down! It follows the struggles of a talented and battle-hardened soldier who has to adapt to a new mindset that comes with the challenge of competing to replace the soon-to-retire Royal Champion. It is clear at the onset that skill with a blade is only part of what is needed for not only the competition but for the job of Royal Champion. You will cheer him as he survives not only contests with the best swordsmen in the country, but treachery as well!

[Alexandre · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book, I loved the characters and classic tournament plot. My guess is that Ervan is going to be the villain of The Swordman's Lament.