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Greatcoats #5.8

When the Sword Seems To Smile

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The Price of Victory

This story takes place shortly after the events of Tyrant’s Throne, the final book in the Greatcoats Quartet.

The Greatcoats have brought Tristia back from the brink of war and ruin, prevented the rise of a dictator, and finally saw the King’s heir returned to the throne. What follows proves to be much, much harder for one of them . . .

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First published August 20, 2021

163 people want to read

About the author

Sebastien de Castell

57 books4,917 followers
Hi Folks!

My eighteenth novel, MALEVOLENT EIGHT is now available. Cade Ombra and his misfit band of mercenary war mages are determined to prevent a cataclysmic war between supernatural beings. But peace at any price might mean killing an awful lot of people. The Malevolent Seven might be heroes, but they'll be the good guys . . .

My seventeenth novel is titled PLAY OF SHADOWS. A swashbuckling fantasy set in the world of mystical theatre where exalted actors can channel the spirits of the historical figures they portray on stage. But Damelas Chademantaigne seems to be summoning the spirit of a notorious villain whose secrets could unleash a civil war!

My sixteenth novel is CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!

My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!

You can get a pair of free stories here.

The best way to stay up to date is at www.decastell.com, but I'm also on that Facebook thing. Also that Twitter thing. One day I'll even remember to get on that Instagram thing.

As to who I am? Well . . .

Sebastien de Castell had just finished a degree in Archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way.

Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.

Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com

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5 stars
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4 stars
18 (37%)
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4 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for J. Griff.
464 reviews13 followers
September 1, 2021
This is an amazing short story starring Falcio val Mond & he comes to terms with life after the Greatcoats. I so miss these characters!
Profile Image for Alan Behan.
732 reviews18 followers
June 13, 2022
A brilliant and sentimental little short story from the Greatcoats world, set after the last book of the series. We follow our favourite Greatcoat of them all the first Cantor Falcio val Mond. Living in a secluded area with his girlfriend Ethalia the new Saint of Mercy and heavily pregnant with their child. Falcio is finding it hard going since he has left the Greatcoats. Paranoid and always on edge from assassins and thinking people are still trying to hurt the one he loves, missing his best friend's and wondering how good of father he will be to his unborn daughter. You get to see a different side to Falcio in this fantastic little read, after reading all these short stories and giving me my Greatcoats fix, I really hope Sebastian De Castell returns to this amazing world in the near future. Highly recommend....😁🔥💙🗡
Profile Image for Sam.
37 reviews36 followers
September 30, 2021
This was a great short story. As someone who just had a child of my own it was nice to see how a character I am so fond of is handling the experience. My only complaint is that I wish there was more; it was over too soon.
Profile Image for Sean.
778 reviews21 followers
September 8, 2021
Once again another brilliant short about Falcio and life with wife and his future.
Only now wish we could get more with him,wife and daughter(!)
That would be a story...Greatcoats live again?
Profile Image for Katharine.
274 reviews
October 16, 2023
This final short story in the collection is the most sweet and wholesome - it's a wonderful coda for these characters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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