I was excited to enter the world of the Greatcoats once again.

Honestly I thought this was a direct sequel, it's not but it's the same world and I am here for it. Got to love a good mystery and I especially love a mystery when it comes to the supernatural!!

Recommended to anyone who likes a good mystery and adventure!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first de Castell novel I've read, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It seems the world of the Greatcoats (Tristia) is quite well established and there were a number of references to events - and characters - in presumably earlier books. It didn't impede my ability to follow this particular story, although it left me with a persistent feeling that I was missing something. So this is probably not the right book to start with if you're looking to explore Tristia.

About a third of the way through the book, I was close to giving up. The dialogue, and in some cases description, were unnecessarily verbose and this made it difficult to warm to the MC (Estevar). de Castell was also quite insistent on pointing out how clever Estevar is, which left me feeling like his mule (Imperious) was the most sympathetic character. What kept me reading was a desire to unravel the mystery of what happened at the Abbey on Isola Sombra. Unfortunately the author telegraphs the ending about two thirds of the way through the story. So the final climactic confrontation felt...well, both procedural and perfunctory.

The verdict from this wandering reader?
2.5 stars but I'm rounding up to 3 in acknowledgement of Imperious who stole almost every scene he was in.

De Castell has done it again! Another amazing Greatcoats book! And if you haven't read any of the others, this one can still be read as the start of a new series. There are references to the others, but enough is explained to be able to follow the new story.

The plot of this is excellent. Picking up a couple of years after the death of the gods, we follow the King's Crucible into the island where the gods where born that has now fallen into chaos without those gods. The Greatcoat has to administer justice on the island with the help of his trusty mule, Imperious, who is, obviously, my favourite character in the whole book.

I love the leaps of logic in the book. Most of the time I can't follow where de Castell is going with it, which always leaves me guessing! I can't wait for the next one.

I have not read the Greatcoats series before (though it is on my list) and this was not what I expected. But actually, I kind of liked that.

Although I am sure reading the previous series may add context to the story, this novel stands pretty well on its own. I enjoyed Estevar as a character as well as his Greatmule Imperious, who definitely provided the light relief in this dark mystery. I would call this a dark fantasy mystery with lighter tones sprinkled throughout. In fact, the vibes of this novel worked very well. They were well balanced and made me want to read more.

This story felt original and complex without getting too bogged down in its own myth. I appreciated the characters and I really enjoyed the writing.

Although I really enjoyed this one, I have to admit I did not completely love it. There were a couple of times where the narrative was a little confusing to me or where I felt the plot could have done with a bit more oomph, but overall, this was a really good read for me. I would love to spend more time with Estevar and his fiesty mule.

I am absolutely certain now that Sebastien de Castell will not let me down with his books. Crucible of Chaos, a standalone novel that sort of links the end of the Greatcoats series to the new Court of Shadows series (or at least bridges the gap a little). It’s a murder mystery, set in a remote monastery that appears to have gone mad, and I honestly wish there would be an entire series of Borros investigating mysteries (along with his mule).

First things first: I know this is rejoining a world with a lot written about it before, but it feels like you could pick this up on its own and, yeah there might be a couple of confusing bits referencing the events of Greatcoats, but you would still have a readable book with plenty of worldbuilding to absorb. You could read this and read nothing else by de Castell and still feel like it’s a book that stands on its own two feet. So, if you’re in that boat and this book interests you, then read it! Trust me!

Secondly, all that’s great about every de Castell book I’ve read is, surprise surprise, also great here. Vibrant characters, absorbing action, and a mystery that keeps you on your toes. I didn’t want to put this book down, but I also didn’t want to finish it. Every time you think it’s given you all the answers, something else comes to light and you’re stuck wondering if Borros will even get out of this alive. (Side note here, it reminds me a lot of Richard Swan’s Empire of the Wolf series, albeit a fair bit less dark.)

What makes de Castell’s books so good for me is, yes, the combination of everything I’ve mentioned, but specifically it’s his characters who bring his books to life. Every single one of them feels distinct from the others, fully-realised and fleshed out, so that you could envisage them leaping off the page. Borros is another great addition to that count, and his dynamic with both his mule Imperious and the girl he makes his apprentice for the duration (this latter relationship, particularly, was my favourite) were very compelling. And another reason I didn’t want the book to end. Any chance of this trio going round the world of the Greatcoats investigating for another few books, haha?

Anyway, if you’ve passed on Sebastien de Castell up until now, I would say this is a great entry book, particularly into the Greatcoats series, although as a standalone too. If you want your fantasy reads to be full of action, but with characters who feel real and worldbuilding that doesn’t bog you down, then look no further!

I recently discovered Sebastien de Castell when I reviewed Play of Shadows, so as soon as I saw this book was available I knew I had to read. This is a prelude to the Court of Shadows books and very different in tone to Play of Shadows but equally engrossing.
Our protagonist Estevar Borros, is a Greatcoat who are travelling magistrates for the King and Estevar in particular is called the Kings Crucible, solving the more esoteric mysteries.
The book starts as Estevar arrives at the causeway leading to the monastery of Isola Sombra only accompanied by his mule, Imperious. He has received a cryptic message from the monasteries Abbot and even before he steps foot on the causeway he is told of strange occurrences and monks descending into madness. The description of Isola Sombra is evocative and having recently finished watching the Shardlake series I could clearly see the monastery and its inhabitants, complete with secret passages, misty moorland and of course the treacherous causeway.
We find out that Estevar is already wounded when he reaches the monastery from an ill advised duel and his physical condition is not helped by being washed off the causeway as he attempts to reach Isola Sombra. He is helped by a mysterious woman and her henchmonk, but throughout the narrative Estevar is on the edge of his physical and mental limits but you are rooting for him to succeed. As a mystery it is well paced and so many twists and turns that kept me glued to the book. I haven't read any of the Greatcoat books and perhaps this may benefit for some of the back story or world building, however this was still an excellent read without doing this.
I would recommend this and my thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC. All views are my own.

"Crucible of Chaos" is a book weaving perfectly fantasy with mystery investigation.
The first chapter laid the ground exceptionally well, giving the reader a glimpse of the situation, and making them curious enough to want to read the book to understand what happened. In only two pages, it manages to catch curiosity and attention.
Another good point is the character of Imperious. Now, I'm a sucker for an animal companion, and here it's a mule? (donkeys are my favorite animals) I'm in. If anything happened to him, I would have riden to battle.
The pacing of the investigation, while feeling a little long, was good ; it gave the reader enough time to digest what was going on.
The only minus point is that I didn't feel any connection towards the main characters. And while it isn't that big of a deal, it did made me enjoy the book a little less.
This book was really good and laid the ground well for the rest of the series, making me interested in reading it.

Sebastien de Castell is as witty and hilarious as ever! This prequel to his new series Court of Shadows follows Estevar, one of the famous Greatcoats. He is an investigator of the supernatural, a good swordsman (when his injury isn’t bothering him), and the owner of a majestic mule. I think that’s a great combination for a hero.

What I loved most about this book was the focus on the supernatural and dark things that go bump in the night. I think that the investigative focus on the supernatural made it distinct from de Castell’s other works. It has a strong storyline, clear plot points and a compelling mystery. It also sets up his new series very well!

The writing is snappy and has the usual de Castell flair. This means that there is always some hilarious dialogue to read and plenty of bonkers plot twists to follow. Whilst I didn’t find this book quite as funny as the Spellsinger series, mostly because of my love for Kellen, it still made me giggle. And most importantly, I truly enjoyed reading this book!

4.5 stars. Sebastian de Castell isn’t just an excellent author. He is a bard in a tavern retelling the story for your and my pleasure. So find yourself a quiet nook with a pint of ale, or as I did a few summer afternoons lying in the sun with a cool drink, and settle in for some fun. I loved the humour and the characters, especially Imperios! Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Cast a light upon the things that hide in shadows [...], for there can be no justice in darkness.

The Greatcoats are back! And needed more than ever to bring justice to a nation torn apart.

Estevar Borros, The King's Crucible, receives urgent note from an abbot that he needs his help to restore peace to the island his monastery stands on. But once Estevar arrives, the abbot is dead, factions have formed and are fighting each other, a remarkable girl who may or may not be dead won't leave his side, and oh yes, the gods are dead and demons walk the earth. Holding a trial and righting the many wrongs commited on such holy ground seems impossible. Thankfully, his trusted mule, the noble Imperious, is always by his side...

In true de Castell fashion, this book is a perfect blend of wit and pathos, action and reverence, horror and beauty. It starts as a murder mystery on an isolated island, but somehow turns into so much more... It's just FUN to be back in the world of the Greatcoats (you don't need to have read the original Greatcoat novels- although, why wouldn't you, they are awesome) and I hope there will be many more to come.

I love all Sebastien de Castell's Greatcoats books, though I confess I miss the characters from the first four-book sequence beginning with Traitor's Blade (highly recommended). In this we meet a new character who appeared in the short stories contained in Tales of the Greatcoats, Estevar Borros, the broad-girthed, duel-fighting magistrate, and his faithful, if occasionally unlikely, mule. (No, Sebastien, mules don't cock their legs and pee like dogs, sorry.) Not remotely recovered from a near-fatal wound in a previous duel, Estevar is called to the holy island of Isola Sombra where the monks are splitting into factions and running mad. On arrival (after a journey that nearly kills him) he finds Venia, the abbot who summoned him, has been murdered, but won't stay in his grave. There's a rogue ex-priest and a girl who might or might not be dead, plus a whole host of demons, but who summoned them? At times the religious arguments get a bit abstruse, but stick with it. This is a complex case for Borros to figure out, so complex that it might kill him.

Play of Shadows is one of my favorite reads of the year, so of course I needed to read the prequel. It's very different from Play of Shadows and I didn't always like the MC, but it's still a good book and a nice introduction to this new series.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Estevar Borros is a Greatcoat, a sword-fighting, travelling magistrate in service to the King. His speciality is all things supernatural, although he’s neither a believer nor an out-and-out sceptic. He also holds little truck with religion, so when he receives a desperate note from the abbot of Isola Sombra, holiest isle of the kingdom and possible birthplace of the gods, his help is far from guaranteed.

But soon there is a mystery to unravel, and if there’s one thing Estevar can’t resist (other than food ;)), it’s sating his curiosity. So why are the monks at war with each other? Why were soldiers sent back from the island mute and marked all over with strange symbols? What, exactly, is going on on isolated Isola Sombra?

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first (previous? next?) book of the Court of Shadows, Play of Shadows, I jumped at the chance to read this… prequel? It’s all a little confused, as this one was sort of released, then became the follow up, so is also due out in August 2024, but is numbered as a prequel and who knows?! But anyway. Here, ARC, read – enjoyed!

However, I didn’t warm to it as much as Play of Shadows. First off, I found Estevar a little harder to like. He’s a little pompous, perhaps, not in an awful way but just not someone I immediately warmed to, despite his great loyalty to his mule – a supporting ‘character’ and presumably mild comic relief that almost missed the mark for me entirely.

Secondly, unlike Play of Shadows, this one leans in heavily to the prior Greatcoat storylines – which I haven’t read yet! It’s not that they matter so much to the story here (or rather, what matters is well enough explained) as much as it felt like I was getting large spoilers to those books, which I intend to go back to read. So a little souring for me, and I would much rather have read Traitor’s Blade et al first. Oh well.

However, despite mild initial misgivings, the mystery here quickly drew me in. Estevar has a Sherlock-like skill set, keen mind and determination to uncover the facts. That these are tinged with the supernatural is very much his wheelhouse – again, it might have helped to have read the previous series first to have a little more background to this world and how out of place or otherwise such things might be, but it still made sense.

The supporting cast is a lot of fun, from the uptight inquisition-like nun and the debauched, egotistical monk, to the shunned young woman who ends up acting as Estevar’s Watson. The mysteries layer themselves on, but we do get nicely satisfying answers all ’round.

Definitely one for fans of the Greatcoats books, although as mentioned, I’d consider reading those first. Looking forward to being able to soon, now!

4.5 stars

CRUICIBLE OF CHAOS is a standalone novel in the world of PLAY OF SHADOWS full of magic and demons.

It is set many years before PLAY OF SHADOWS, following Damelas' grandfather as he investigates a murder at an abbey as new gods rise. It's very different in feel to that book in some respects, with the demons and occult rituals bringing disaster to the island. It's not about a conman fighting a web of intrigue, but an injured, more elderly man attempting to find out how to stop a demon invasion.

There is still all the voice and verve you'd expect from a Sebastien de Castel novel. Joe Jameson narrates again, which ties it together well as Estevar blusters and tricks his way around the island, gathering clues and trying not to get killed by almost everyone (he is very good at getting people to hate him.) It's a lot of fun, a standalone that introduces the greatcoats and plays with the idea of gods.

In this world, the gods were made from human desires and are now dead. So what if new ones come? This has split the monastery into three factions arguing about what gods will be next - and which ones should be next. It's an intriguing premise at the heart of the story, sending them to dangerous lengths.

3.5 stars. I've quite enjoyed what I've read of Sebastien de Castell, and I'm excited to see where this series goes. A solid start thus far,

THIS IS SO GOOD. LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. LOVELY PLOT, STORYLINE, THE CHARACTERS ARE SUPER INTERESTING AND SO ON POINT.

A guide for the best high-handed insults.

Estevar Borros is one of the legendary sword-fighting magistrates known as the Greatcoats and the king's personal investigator of the supernatural.
He answers the call of monks of an abbey fighting over claims of a new pantheon arising following the murder of the old gods.

With his trusty, noble steed called Impetuous, Estevar must act as the crucible - sorting the falsities from the truth amidst demons, mad monks, and raving factions. 
It reads as a historical, justice-seeking, supernatural, dark fantasy. So, there’s something for everyone.

Do you need to read The Greatcoats series before this?
Yes, if you want the full backstory and history.
However, Castell does a brilliant job of giving you a brief overview of what happened and previous characters and stories are treated as legends in Estevar’s own adventures.
So, in that respect I think this stands quite well on its own.

The tone appears quite pretentious and is quite lethargic and long-winded. It’s a lot more similar in tone to the last book of the Greatcoats series, but with slightly less humour as there’s less characters to bounce off.
That’s not to say Castell doesn’t deliver some high-handed, hilarious gems. Especially insults.

“Rest assured, I will pay a reasonable fee for its loan, especially if I decide to stain this blade by carving your worthless hide, you pitiful, prancing popinjay, you crust of defecation stuck to the heel of better men's boots, so lacking in substance that you cannot even stink with distinction.”

Expect a lot of philosophical musings on faith, belief, and the power of, well, power.
Ultimately, I always find these kind of debates stimulating and fascinating in fantasy settings, but I know many others find it dry and a topic of self-indulgence.

“I have observed such rifts forming, theological differences festering into factionalism that tears religious communities apart and sets at each other the lay people whose own lives intertwine with those of the so-called faith, for all they never started the disputes and rarely understand the matters.”

Overall, quite slow for what one might expect to be a sword-wielding fantasy. Instead, expect a lot more clue-seeking, speculating, and judging.
Oh, and quite a few comments about Estevar being fat.

I would recommend this if you enjoyed the Justice of Kings by Richard Swan.

Thank you to Quercus Books for providing an arc in exchange for a review!