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Sebastien de Castell

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Sebastien de Castell

Goodreads Author


Born
in Montreal, Canada
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Member Since
January 2011

URL


Hi Folks!

My nineteenth novel, MALEVOLENT NINE 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 eighteenth novel is OUR LADY OF BLADES. A swashbuckling fantasy set in the world of judicial duelling, intrigues and secret identities.

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 villa
...more

Popular Answered Questions

Sebastien de Castell Hi Dann,

There are four books planned in the initial series. Book 2 is already written and with the publisher for copyediting. I'm writing book 3 right…more
Hi Dann,

There are four books planned in the initial series. Book 2 is already written and with the publisher for copyediting. I'm writing book 3 right now. Book 4 is plotted and brings the initial quartet to a conclusion.

There's talk of a second series that takes place some time after book 4 but I'm still considering whether it's the right decision to make in terms of the characters involved.

Between books 2 and 3 I'll likely be releasing a set of short stories ("Tales of the Greatcoats") that connects the two books. There's also been some talk of prequel novellas of Falcio's early days in the newly formed Greatcoats.

One thing I always say when people ask about the length of the series, though, is that I'm committed to making each book stand alone as a complete story. So while the books connect and form the full arc, I've written book 2 so that it has a proper ending just as I did with book 1. I'm one of those readers who hates when a book ends and it feels as if the story was left hanging in favour of a cliffhanger.

Hope this helps - feel free to follow up if I haven't fully answered your question.(less)
Sebastien de Castell It actually changes with each book. In Traitor's Blade I found I most enjoyed writing Falcio's dialogue, whereas in Knight's Shadow it's often Brasti …moreIt actually changes with each book. In Traitor's Blade I found I most enjoyed writing Falcio's dialogue, whereas in Knight's Shadow it's often Brasti whose words I found most compelling. So far in book 3 Kest has some of the best lines. All that said, I actually think I take the most satisfaction from writing the dialogue of other characters who are challenging Falcio. It's nice to see him lost for words once in a while!

Delighted to hear you're enjoying the series and thanks for getting in touch!(less)
Average rating: 4.15 · 138,697 ratings · 14,927 reviews · 57 distinct works • Similar authors
Traitor's Blade (Greatcoats...

4.04 avg rating — 26,913 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions
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Spellslinger (Spellslinger,...

4.02 avg rating — 20,221 ratings — published 2017 — 54 editions
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Knight's Shadow (Greatcoats...

4.24 avg rating — 14,780 ratings — published 2014 — 32 editions
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Saint's Blood (Greatcoats, #3)

4.25 avg rating — 11,084 ratings — published 2016 — 27 editions
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Shadowblack (Spellslinger, #2)

4.11 avg rating — 11,180 ratings — published 2017 — 42 editions
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Tyrant's Throne (Greatcoats...

4.41 avg rating — 8,796 ratings — published 2017 — 3 editions
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Charmcaster (Spellslinger, #3)

4.21 avg rating — 8,302 ratings — published 2018
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Soulbinder (Spellslinger, #4)

4.22 avg rating — 7,043 ratings — published 2018
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The Malevolent Seven (The M...

3.99 avg rating — 7,186 ratings — published 2023 — 8 editions
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Queenslayer (Spellslinger, #5)

4.17 avg rating — 6,071 ratings — published 2019 — 23 editions
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More books by Sebastien de Castell…

The Long Sword

Christian Cameron’s historical acumen and narrative flair combine to give the reader a glimpse of what the life of a 14th Century knight – in moments of chivalry and occasional […]
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Traitor's Blade Knight's Shadow Saint's Blood Tyrant's Throne
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4.18 avg rating — 63,218 ratings

Spellslinger Shadowblack Charmcaster Soulbinder Queenslayer Crownbreaker
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4.14 avg rating — 62,872 ratings

The Malevolent Seven The Malevolent Eight The Malevolent Nine: They'r...
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4.02 avg rating — 8,905 ratings

Way of the Argosi Fall of the Argosi Fate of the Argosi
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4.25 avg rating — 3,654 ratings

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4.21 avg rating — 2,976 ratings

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Sebastien’s Recent Updates

Tales of the Greatcoats Vol. 1 by Sebastien de Castell
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Sebastien Castell finished reading
Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell
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Sebastien Castell answered Steve Coleman's question: Sebastien de Castell
I usually start from my character and build the world that creates the most problems for them. With Traitor’s Blade, I had this very clear vision of Falcio as someone who’d idealized the notion of the Greatcoats as these travelling, sword-fighting ma See Full Answer
Our Lady of Blades by Sebastien de Castell
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Quotes by Sebastien de Castell  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“I must have encountered the Duke somewhere on the road because I was carrying a sack with me and his head was in it.”
― Sebastien de Castell, Traitor's Blade

“I’m a woman, kid. You probably haven’t met one before, coming as you do from this backward place, but it’s like a man only smarter and with bigger balls.”
― Sebastien de Castell, Spellslinger

“Gods, man, don't you start now,' I said softly. 'We're going to get a terrible reputation if we just keep travelling across the countryside crying all the time.”
― Sebastien de Castell, Traitor's Blade

Polls

Preliminary Poll for Series to Start Nov. 1, 2023

Greatcoats, 4 books by Sebastien de Castell, starting with Traitor's Blade
 
  13 votes, 27.1%

Age of Madness, 3 books by Joe Abercrombie, starting with A Little Hatred
 
  10 votes, 20.8%

The Founders Trilogy, 3 books by Robert Jackson Bennett, starring with Foundryside
 
  9 votes, 18.8%

Book of the New Sun, 5 books by Gene Wolfe, starting with The Shadow of the Torturer
 
  8 votes, 16.7%

The Seven Kennings, 3 books by Kevin Hearne, starting with A Plague of Giants
 
  4 votes, 8.3%

Collegia Magica, 3 books by Carol Berg, starting with The Spirit Lens
 
  4 votes, 8.3%

More...

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“Gods, man, don't you start now,' I said softly. 'We're going to get a terrible reputation if we just keep travelling across the countryside crying all the time.”
― Sebastien de Castell, Traitor's Blade

“It's called the Way of Water, Dexan. You tried to kill me, so now I get to keep your hat. - Kellen”
― Sebastien de Castell, Shadowblack

“Eventually Reichis asked, 'You know why this is such a stupid idea?'
'You said that already. Like, twelve times.'
'Yeah, but do you know WHY it's a stupid idea?'
I stopped. 'Why?'
Reichis shivered on my shoulder. 'Because this place is giving me the creeps, and I'm a squirrel cat - normally we're the ones giving other people the creeps.”
― Sebastien de Castell, Shadowblack

“Thank you... Kellen... Will you wait with me? Just a little longer?' - Seneira
...
'I'll wait with you,' I said. 'As long as it takes.”
― Sebastien de Castell, Shadowblack

“Perfect,' she said, then promptly sat down in the dirt. 'I'm just going to sit here until the world starts making sense, if that's all right.'
'You might be waiting a long time,' I said.”
― Sebastien de Castell, Shadowblack

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