TRAITOR’S BLADE REVIEW | WITH AND WITHOUT SPOILERS
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- A book review for Traitor's Blade by Sebastien De Castell.
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Elliot, In the name of love, try and finish this series. It only gets better from the next book. These books have dumb moments (with the first one having the most) but they are pretty good over all. One thing I love about them is how they portray the classic medieval feudal Europe accurately that is as a brutal and generally dismal place (just like a song of ice and fire did). I hope you pick up the next one. This series is one of my favorites therefore it might just be my bias talking. Still hope you pick up the rest though (it gets much better I promise). Thank you
After the priestess scene I would of dropped it and I just brought the book yesterday. Guess I have to exchange it.
Maybe it won’t bother you, but it’s also of course completely fine if you know for sure that’s not your thing 💗
@@ebnovels it definitely seems like it will bother me but I've still got so many series to try and need to catch up on the vinland saga as well.
Still dying over how much of this book just went totally out of my brain. This is why I can't do audiobooks!!! I seriously don't retain the freaking information.
As someone who has read all four.....the next three are way way way way better than the first one. I thought the first one was just fine and the next three I loved. I think the author definitely learned and grew. Hope this helps.
I loved the series, I’ve read so much rape in fantasy I just gloss over it by now
Had this series on my TBR for quite a while now ... after hearing your review I'm a bit less enthused. Will probably still give it a go at some point on Kindle.
I hope you like it! Falcio was just not really my favorite 😅
Your insights on these issues are helping me accept choices that I've made in my novel. A person is more than just what happened to them, and that's a lesson my MC has to learn. Thanx, Elle :^)
Oh dear .. I just ordered this book through bookdepository, it’s on its way and now I’m worried 😂
I know this is years old now (ages in internet time), but I wanted to make note that this was an extremely *_useful review._* So useful in fact that I was able to recommend the series to a friend based on my knowledge of his interests and tolerances and what I'd learned from your review. While also avoiding spending my own time as I'm certain I would not have enjoyed this one. In the end _Greatcoats_ became one of my friend's favorite series and based on his accounts of subsequent books, I regret nothing. Can't ask for more out of a review than that.
Also, I know advice is unnecessary (and too late at this point), but there's no need to apologize for identifying lazy characterization (and inventing characters with no identity of their own for the sole purpose of fleshing out the psychology of another characters *IS* lazy characterization) as an issue. It's genuinely useful information to have and savvy consumers can gauge the degree to which it will or won't effect their own reading experience. I'm not the sort of reader who wants to casually bash authors (or see that done by others); but we can criticize the faults we see without having to wrap it in a layer of self-effacement first. Sure we haven't all published our own well-regarded series of novels, but that doesn't mean we're not allowed to speak to the subject of story telling. Sound judgement is sound regardless of its source-it will stand on its own merits and your criticisms here do just that.
Having only read the first two novels in the series, I love them. I believe that Sebastien has done a great job of taking a typical feudal society and examining the power dynamic of Lord V King and the honor and ethics of Knights. Typically we associate Knights with upholding noble and virtuous values, yet they also serve a duty to their liege Lord or Lady. It is for this reason that Greatcoats exist, to act as impartial judges or law enforcement officers on behalf of the King and for the greater good of his people. As someone who is passionate about and working towards a career in Law Enforcement I may be biased, take that as you will. The other reason that I thoroughly enjoyed De Castell's Greatcoats is due to our three merry lads themselves. Falcio, Kest, and Brasti as a tight-knit unit work really well together from a comedic, familial, and technical standpoint. It is through these three men that Three Musketeers comparisons ring true. These men have been through hell together, lived with and depended on one another.
I also believe that you are warranted in your frustration with the rape and sexual violence in Traitor's Blade specifically. The first with the (I will say "Priestetute" as that comment gave me a hearty chuckle) Priestetute is rather jarring. Her character does however become further developed. That said, if you don't want to read that type of scene, I can understand. Falcio's wife however is a different story. I will first acknowledge that you are right, her character is not elaborated on enough in the first novel but is rather expanded upon subsequently in Falcio's story. That said, I always believed that the treatment of and loss of his wife was a driving factor behind the deep PTSD that Falcio has experienced. He lost her and everything he knew only to find a cause and someone to believe in that, as we know, was lost to him once again. Falcio is forced to watch his second chance, the King, die before his eyes. I also believe this to be why he relents in the situation with Eline. Falcio is terribly damaged, perhaps in some ways that sex magic can't heal. I suppose that I am saying that Falcio's wife was used by Sebastien, as well as Falcio's mistakes, to reinforce that Falcio is a damaged person and that he carries a lot of turmoil and stress with every day.
Finally, I will acknowledge that I noticed some odd grammatical and structuring issues in Traitor's Blade. Some of these you touched on already. I found this particularly odd considering that the author is a Canadian based out of Vancouver, so I am not sure if some of these issues were publishing errors or not. The issues themselves never bothered me too much though.
In the end, I think Sebastien has created a unique and interesting world and story while filling it with enjoyable and (mostly) meaningful characters. If medieval cops and grudges interest you, then I urge you to give the series a try. Sorry for the rant!
The problem for me is also that everything in this book is terribly predictable. Also, I really loved Falcio and was incredibly frustrated that instead of actually having his traumaS being addressed (plural cause his wife, his King and oh, yeah, he was tortured for days) was resolved by essentially being more or less raped by a Priestess, which he did not want because he's too *traumatised* to sleep with another woman. Like. I mean. Seriously ?
And yeah, I knew the plot twist approximately half way through.
@@gaelled.8400 what plot twist? And how did yo uno figure it out
This.
Just finished reading a curse so dark and lonely. Loved it and cant wait to read the sequel :)
Yay, that’s great! I’ll be curious to see what you think of book two 😊
I enjoyed the book enough to give the second in the series a go but some of your criticisms are very warranted. Falcio was okay but I found that I was more interested in characters like Kest and Brasti. Glad you pointed out the double standard people have with certain things as it pertains to males. Also, unless this prophetess has a bigger part of the larger story, I agree that it was wholly unnecessary (and jarring).
I hope the second book (only a couple chapters in) cleans up on some of the issues I had with this one.
A couple of people have said things are elaborated on in the next books, so hopefully you’ll find that to be the case :) I was most interested in Kest, but we didn’t really see him much in this first book.
This is one of my favourite series, I know rape is used just to develop Falcio’s character and that is pretty much all we ever learn about his wife, but it is he driving force for him to join the greatcoats which is the whole point of the book. We look at the impact of this on his life, not the best but ive sadly gotten used to it now in fantasy
The book definitely isn't perfect, and some parts of it made me pretty uncomfortable, but I think the later books do a really good job developing the characters and the friendships and making for a fun, sometimes dramatic story. It can definitely stray into overblown territory with some of the torture aspects, but I found the series as a whole worth the read--in later books especially you get some great female characters, even if the first book is pretty iffy in that category.
lovely stuff
I bought this book cheap as an ebook. I am glad for this review because I have seen only good ones about it before and this lowers my expectations. Knowing what I'm in for might help my enjoyment, but it doesn't sound good from what you mentioned xD I will still read it though.
I've been in 2 minds about this series for a while now. Cass from What Cass Read loves these books. But you didn't love this so....ugh!
Oh well..maybe i will, maybe i won't!
I think i'll start book of the Ancestor next anyway.
Keep up the great honest reviews Elliot.
Btw are you going to JordanCon?
Danniel and Merphy are going. Plus Sanderson is probably going to be there this year as well! 😭
I would go but unfortunately im over in the uk. Doh!!
I read the series a long time ago so I don't remember anything other that I really enjoyed it.
As always very energetic and entertaining video. This book was one of my few 5 stars. I just thought it was fun reading with lot of guys comedy that worked for me (being a guy myself helped probably) but the emotional moments what made it amazing. I admit I get bit teary eyes with many books but this one got actual tears. To keep things in context I probably had much easier time relating to the main character. I am not an old man yet but definitely not young, 40s. Falcao romantic relationship was OK. But relationship where he was the father figure did me in (I have a daughter, which definitely has affected how I read fantasy now as opposed to before). The moment in the end when he gave his "answer " was amazing to me and quite emotional. I guess what I am saying if you are guy who been reading fantasy for 20+ year and is a father now then you are gonna definitely be the perfect audience for this book. Would love to hear female readers who mothers as well. Anyway love your channel, please keep it up.
awesome content
Falcio seemed to be an interesting caracter. I liked some jokes, friendship theme and fight scenes.
I just watched a nice Q and A video with you and your husband. I'm new to your channel.
My brother lives in Mesa, my Nephew lives in Chandler and my Niece lives in Gilbert. What a small world. I live outside a small town in extremely rural southwest Mississippi.
I am a retired lawyer, busy life-long learner and also an active reader.
My brain constantly gets hungry...... . It always has to be fed to keep it and me happy.... Reading biography type stuff seems to do the trick.
Thank you for your nice , ......relaxed ....... yet appropriately intellectual / academic channel.
It is light and to the point...... not vulgar or crude.....and not silly..... etc.
I was also feeling very lukewarm about this one. Lots of dues ex machina. Just finished Saint's Blood - the best book I've read this year so far. The improvement in quality between books is staggering. Will you be reading the sequels?
I really did have a great time with this book but you point out some incredibly valid points. The way that Aline was used to get raped/killed as motivation for the main character does feel pretty messed up and the rape of Falcio later on in the book felt TOTALLY random to me. I actually very much enjoyed the flashbacks for Falcio throughout the book. It added a decent amount of backstory and reasoning for his character. There is definitely a healthy dose of deus ex machina in this book. I actually enjoyed the main crew of characters and Falcio specifically.
'This is when it really sealed the deal for me that Falcio was an idiot' Preach. Hahahaha I think I partially enjoyed the whole book because he was so frustrating, though. I'm usually not one for first person POV, but I had a lot of fun reading Traitor's Blade. I also enjoyed the world building thoroughly :)
Wonderful review!
I just read that book and the global handling of trauma and injuries... Urrrrrrrh.
Thank you for the priestess scene. I was like "ummm he's said no like, three times ? No ?"
And also healing trauma with sex ? I'm sorry ? Nope ? I don't care for magic this just takes away the entire interest of having a traumatised character and the entire potential for development just.... Urrrrh.
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Also in general the plot was SOOOO predictable. SO PREDICTABLE.
Didn‘t care too much for the first for similar reasons. The second one tho was great imo. It explored the characters more as a trio and especiallys Brasti‘s struggles were really interesting to read about. The topics in general (ie knighthood) were way more interesting. That was my favorite book out of the four. The rest didn‘t convince as the second did. But that one was definitely worth my time.
The second book was also my favourite book in the series. The struggles that you mentioned with Brasti also had me hooked. I was unsure about the series with book one but book two really made it for me. So many emotions haha
Random the second one was my favorite out of the series also. I really liked it. All of the books felt like fun to me. I didn’t really fear for the characters at all in the other books. I remember that bothered me. But that second book was really good to me at the time.
It's been a while since I read this , so don't recall the specifics that much.. but I did like it.
Not much of a recommendation against everything you mentioned against it , I know 😅
Need to reread it .. oh my poor tbr
I’m glad you liked it! Hopefully you’ll like it just as much if you get to it again :)
I am at work so i haven’t seen the video yet. i was about to ask you or Merphy Napier or Daniel Greene, if you had read these books. I was given these books and i read them a few years ago while at work... I loved them lol I just picked up the audio book and started a 2nd go
I can’t wait to hear what you have to say, although by some of the comments i don’t think you liked it much lol
I listened to the book and while not my favorite book it was fine listen while driving a long way for work. As for those sections they did not bother me but my the same token I see why anyone would not like them.
This was on my TBR but I’m put off by that weird priestess scene. Glad I watched your spoiler rant at the end, that was hilarious 😂
I hated that damn priestess prostitute character so much. I also wtf'd at that scene but I think at that point I wasn't really taking the book seriously anyway. This is probably why I haven't bothered to keep going even though I see it more as a 'fluff' fantasy lol.
Great review and discussion! May I ask if you have read a song of ice and fire and if so, how do you think it depicts sexual violence? I am new to your channel.
I haven't read this, but I don't think I want to really. And I agree, if it was a woman people would be UP IN ARMS but a dude, nah, which is insane to me!
It was quite out of left field, imo. I know men and women have different experiences in life and feel differently about things, but I still found the scene didn’t sit right with me :/
@@ebnovels that wouldn't sit right with me either honestly
I read the whole series a while back and found it ok. I get a bit confused (probably my age!) between this and The Traitor Son series (because of the name of the first book in this one I guess) and The Witcher because:
SPOILERY STUFF:
there are some parallels between Eline in this series and Ciri. Also, a lot of the things you disliked were there to set up things in later books. The "fake greatcoats" are part of a major plot in a later book. Eline having the poison pill becomes relevant later. The "horse" is important. The prostitute/priestess becomes a major character by the end. Falcio's wife gets a lot more character development and his PTSD at her rape and murder is a major plot point.
Taken as a whole the series is interesting and the writing gets better as it progresses. I think this is the author's first work and the overall plot is fairly clever but maybe it would have been better as one (very) long book. The later books do more world building and character development so that by the end everything fits together.
Not the greatest series ever but not that bad although, yes, Falcio is a bit of a dick.
I think the first book being longer would’ve been interesting. I’m glad a lot of the things in the book play a role later; they ended up feeling quite random to me in this first book with how the were brought into the story.
Where do you shop for clothes? You have a very elegant and modest style.
Well thanks! I get most of my sweaters from old navy :)
I loved this series. In the other books falcio talks more about his wife.
I kinda thought that even though I haven't read anything but the first book. I also thought that part of him not talking about her in the first book was showing part of his character. He doesn't open up, doesn't share his deepest feelings and probably even keeps himself from thinking of the good times because he thinks they only give him grief.
David Shaffer exactly, more over her tragic death is a major reason for the greatcoat foundation
I guess I didn’t understand why his king got so much time in flashbacks but his wife only was shown being raped and killed. It could be done well in future books with her getting more attention, but I done really know why it’d be necessary. I already found some of the flashbacks forced in this one 🤷🏻♀️
I understand why you felt this way about this priestess scene. But I understood it that he said no cause he didn't want HER to feel she has to save him (Falcio is trying all the time to die pretty much, they explore it later and he gets called out by everyone around him for this). He is perfectly aware what her 'power' is and that she wanted to 'help' him. They later touch more on those 'powers' and why she particularly became a priestess. Also *spoiler alert*
later in books there is an actual scene where a female rapes a man. At it is showed that it is bad and it causes pain to this man. It also ties up with a really cruel torture scene so if someone gets triggered by things like this I wouldn't recommend reading.
This is, without a doubt, 100% my favorite review you’ve ever done. From beginning to end, this was pure gold. 😂👏🏻
Hahahaha, well thank you Dan, I appreciate that 😅
Actually there is more about his wife later in series.
There wasn’t more of her in this first book, though. Just curious, do those scenes only work in the following books? Was there no way we could’ve learned something else about her in this first book other than that she was raped? It seems to go against the line I read for Falcio to elaborate on her later.
How is the rest of the series?
@@ebnovels I think it's more important for later scenes and events. This whole series is told from a point of view of Falcio and we are basically in his head. The unfortunate thing that happened to his wife was really traumatizing for him. He's not fully aware yet how bad it messed him up mentally (just like king's death and other events). So he gradually realizes it and he recalls her more and more. She became sort of a ghost of the past that haunts him cause he feels he needs to suffer for all the cruel things that happened to her. And also for all the stuff he did after her death and before becoming a Greatcoat (a little spoiler). That is also why he makes all those stupid decisions mostly. As you already saw a little, other characters are trying to make him realize his own problems and flaws and call him out constantly. Also along the series more secrets come to light and shake his entire view of the world (and it's somewhat tied to his wife too). But at the end of the day all of this is just how I interpret this series so maybe you would see it completely different than me.
@@michaellewis1545 I am yet to read the last part (cause they didn't publish it in my country yet) but I really enjoy it (and from the reviews I saw the last book is the best so I'm excited). Each part so far touched on not only the characters' pasts and relationships but also unfolded other crucial parts of the world the series take place and rules that have power there. I would say the first book is just a prelude to what comes later.
People won't bat an eyelid over reading nonsensical death and killing yet complain about rape... That is cognitive dissonance right?
Rape is violence.
Rape is an act of torture and humiliation. A character getting killed isn't the same as a character getting tortured and then killed.
I've just reach the "Night of mercy" chapter (gosh that title makes it even worse...) and I'm so MAD !! I was loving this book so far, I was even considering forgiving the bad characterisation of the villains and rating it a 5 stars... And then this chapter happened and the author just ruined the book for me... No means no, stop means stop, silence doesn't mean yes, ESPECIALLY when somebody is PHYSICALLY RESTRAINED ! It's sex without consent and this is by definition RAPE and I don't care about the context, if you want to present it as a f**** therapy or magic or I don't know what ! I don't care if the victim is a man, a rape is still a rape ! Like you said it's not the fact that a rape was depicted that disgusted me, when it's well handled I don't have a problem with it in books, what I found infurating is when an author writes a rape as if it's not one ! And sadly it's not the first book I've read where it happens. A man was the victim too in the other book I've read, so I do believe like you do that people have an even harder time understanding it's a rape when it's a man... which is very sad because it's just the reflection of how we see things in real life too...
I can agree with first one you talk about. That one was weird to read.
Couldn't disagree more about the second one, though.
I totally get what you're saying about how rape was handled. I recently read The Kiss Quotient, not sure if you've read it but it's basically a chick lit where this girl hires a male escort to teach her sex and act as her boyfriend. Everyone seems to love the book, but I could just never get over how the matter of prostitution was handled (or not handled at all, in fact), and kept thinking that everyone would loose their shit if the roles were reversed (i.e. a guy hiring a female escort to teach him sex). It definitely ruined the entire book for me.
I haven't read it yet, but I've heard some good things about how it was handled by people who are generally very aware of the sex industry and despise any misinformation or maltreatment of the subject. Spoilers be damned, could you elaborate on this?
Also, many sex workers will tell you that "prostitution" is a slur, so maybe substitute that?
@@LanaFeyah I wouldn't go as far as saying that the matter was mishandled or disinformative, and I was mainly making the point to tell Elliot that I knew what it felt like to have a personal hang-up on a certain thing that most other people don't seem to mind. What I found lacking in the book was any kind of reflection from the female main character (who purchases the escort service) on what she was doing or what it meant. It was all very glossed over, and in a book where it plays such an integral part of the story, that just didn't sit too well with me. To me, it was a much too shallow portrayal of a rather complex subject. Still, as I mentioned, I wouldn't say that it was mishandled but rather just not handled enough.
I'm not a native English speaker and was not aware that the word prostitution is considered a slur, it is quite widely used in my language. I would gladly learn a substitute, though.
I haven’t read that one. Sorry it didn’t end up working for you. Just out of curiosity, did they make that into a show? The plot sounds familiar but I don’t remember if I heard about the book 🤔
@@ebnovels It's not a show as far as I'm aware, but it's something I could've missed!
Heal people through sex? That sounds a little ridiculous worded that way. I was a little iffy on this but I’ll probably skip.
I mean - it's a satire, a comedy, not a serious drama. But still, that sounds like a problematic scene.
You know what, I read this whole series. And while it’s not my favorite series by any means I thought it was okay and good fun: At no point did I think about the scene with Falcio and the priestess lady as rape. And I should have. It makes me wonder how many times I let something like that go in stories because it happened to a man. Actually I didn’t even “let it go” I never thought it was an issue. I’m the worst. 🤣 I need to be a more sensitive reader.
Oh, you’re not the worst! Not everyone is going to feel the same, or see something the same, so having conversations about it is I think a good think, so long as everyone is respectful. Plus, I think we feel differently about things based on where we are in life. Maybe I wouldn’t have thought anything of this had I read it five years ago 🤷🏻♀️
Just out of curiosity, what would be on top of your list for a good series?
That first rape scene and the way it was handled... yikes. Definitely not the book for me, then! I can't believe that in the year of our lord 2020, people still don't see sexual abuse of men as abuse.
I found the whole scene very bizarre and out of nowhere.
Oh no. She was fridged!
That's always annoying in a book.
Alot of people said that about the beginning of red riding but I think we get alot more of his wife for that to be considered Fridging.
I agree. I don’t consider that fridging personally, especially given his dad did the same thing. The decisions they made were their own and something that’s established as a lot of reds doing.
@@ebnovels I'm so glad you agree! I made the SAME defense using the Dad as an example lol. :]
Yes! That's exactly why I didn't like this book! At least now I know I'm not the only one who felt this way about it :)
Haha, definitely not the only one. Sorry it wasn’t for you!
I avoid books with rape, no need for it. There are so many other good books to read. Hey Elliot, I think you might have been frowning.
I think you should have read the 2nd book before reviewing this book. Falcio’s wife and the priestess play bigger roles that could even be described as heroic.
I had to dnf this books because the writing was so so bad and I’m glad I didn’t read on
Sorry but I don't get it. You'll praise Vinland Saga. If you haven't caught all the way up with Vinland Saga ***SPOILERS AHEAD***
In Vinland Saga, one of the female character's only role in the manga is a sex slave. First, she becomes pregnant with the farm owner's child. Then she gets beat to death because she gets accused of helping her murderous husband escape the farm.
Do you see this character in life? Do you only see her rape and then her death, or does she have other moments that show her as more than just getting raped and dying? In this story, the character isn’t even described-only her rape and death are. Also, I didn’t like this book regardless. Even if those moments hadn’t been there, I still would’ve had everything else to say that I said.
Most people: trigger warning for rape discussion.
Me: warning for @3:54 when you bend the spine/ cover of the book haha! My stress levels hit the roof
It’s a library book that most definitely already had a broken spine.
Lol
I’m 14 chapters in and I feel like it’s starting to drag. I’ve been enjoying the story but I’m starting to get bored with it. I hate when that happens because it seems like it’s a fun story. I think it could be condensed some lol
I quit the book after that thing with his wife
Oh yeah? I thought maybe we’d see more of her, given how much we see the king.
Elliot Brooks Well I did read abit further but I‘m kind of uncomfortable with that stuff and since I wasn‘t into whatever else was going in I decided to quit
There is a term for what happened to the woman you where describing. It's called 'fridging' - after a infamous Green Lantern Story where the only purpouse of Hal Jordans girl was to be killed and to be put in a fridge so he could go nuts and start revenge.
@Sean damn, it IS important. Thanks for clearing that up. :-)
almost done with the second book, and i am enjoying it very much. the complaints i hear and read here lead me to believe a lot of readers are too fragile for a story like this. it's good people trying to do their best in a shitty world.
Thank you. This is not something I can get behind. Removed from my amazon cart.
Sounds ridiculous
"Her role is that she's a prostitute who has the power to heal people through sex..." If that isn't the most Male Author thing I've ever heard come out of a book, then I don't know what is
Brittany Howard Her goal in life shouldn’t be to heal other people by serving up her body. That concept is insane to me. 😐
Most fantasy books are based on ancient medieval history. Rape is normal in these time periods, If you can't handle these types of stories, that's fair enough but that's not the fault of the author, that's your problem. Props for owning your bias though.
How rape is handled in a book is completely down to the author. As I said in the video, I don’t have an issue with authors showing heavy content, but I expect it to be handled with care, and I didn’t feel this book did that. Last I checked, there weren’t magical prostitutes in medieval times 🤷🏻♀️ Rape, sadly, is still normal, btw, but something being “normal” doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve care when putting it in a story. That’s my opinion at least.
Also, the “last I checked part” was me joking around, but I realized afterward that it sounds really rude via the comments, which wasn’t my intention 😅
I thought it was complete garbage when you compare this to what's available out there. Just not worth your time.
Yeah, that's rape.
I thought so :/
Try and remember this is fiction. Knowing you dont like it means that i will. ❤
Elliot: describes female on male rape scene
Me: ok... but is the Priestess hot?
Elliot: describes how the male is fine with it afterwards
Me: ah that's a "yes" then
its FANTASY maybe you need to browse the nonfiction section, from the way you look and the way you speak I have a feeling a lot of things rub you the wrong way.