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Crownbreaker

(Spellslinger #6)

Sebastien de Castell (Goodreads Author)

4.41 · Rating details · 2,248 ratings · 265 reviews

Kellen and Reichis are settling into their new lives as protectors of the young queen and dealing with the constantly shifting threats to her reign and to her life. For the first time in his life, Kellen feels as if he's becoming the kind of man that his mentor Ferius had wanted him to be. Even Reichis has come to appreciate having a noble purpose - so long as no one minds ...more

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Hardcover, 528 pages

Published October 17th 2019 by Hot Key Books

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Apr 14, 2020 Hamad rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, e-books, fantasy, good-covers, ya

This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷

“Is that what all human civilisation leads to?’ I asked. ‘Are we destined for nothing more than endless wars and bloodshed?”

I am going to be very honest here and say that my experience with the series was very underwhelming! I wish I used the time to read the author’s Greatcoats series because it is directed toward adult readers which is me, this is directed toward younger readers and it shows. I am not a big fan of the ending too but compa ...more

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Dec 28, 2019 Holly (Holly Hearts Books) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copies, own

I'm not entirely sure what happened. I wish I had enjoyed these last 2 books more but the story felt out of place. New villains popped up I didn't see the point of, new characters appeared who I was supposed to just like for no reason. The story I was so invested in during books 1-4 disappeared and books 5 and 6 felt like it just ditched all that progress.

For example, a character who is known as God appears in this installment and he's suddenly Kellen's (and the worlds) focus but I had zero time ...more

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Oct 08, 2019 Jon Adams rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

That postscript was perfect.

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Jul 21, 2019 Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard rated it it was amazing

Shelves: tbr-january-2021, 2019, own

*exhale sigh* this series is wonderful...

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Oct 24, 2019 explorerofbooks rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I can’t recommend this series enough, especially now I know De Castell truly knows how to write an ending. Even though he said Kellen and his friends would always be in our hearts, this goodbye still hurt. Spellslinger will always be one of my favorite fantasy series, filled with tricks, magic, realism and best of all, innovative characters. Sometimes, we don’t need a hero. Sometimes, we just need our wits and a little fear to remind us we’re alive. And…yeah, a good book also helps.

Kellen and R I can’t recommend this series enough, especially now I know De Castell truly knows how to write an ending. Even though he said Kellen and his friends would always be in our hearts, this goodbye still hurt. Spellslinger will always be one of my favorite fantasy series, filled with tricks, magic, realism and best of all, innovative characters. Sometimes, we don’t need a hero. Sometimes, we just need our wits and a little fear to remind us we’re alive. And…yeah, a good book also helps.

Kellen and Reichis are growing into their jobs as protectors of the young Daroman queen, even if this means the royal marshal service keeps bugging them all the time. Kellen has made many enemies over the years, and they won’t be the last. Even his own family has turned against him more than once now. Imagine his surprise when mage sovereign and father Ke’heops come to ask for his aid. The Berabesq have a foreign god by their side, and finally united, they are ready for war. Unforeseen circumstances make him accept the preposition. Finding his place in this world will have to wait, because now he has to travel to the most heavily guarded city in the world to assassinate a spiritual miracle. After all, isn’t an ambitious trickster the best kind of assassin?

As if De Castell didn’t already put enough detailed work into building up his world, we finally got a map. Not that it was necessary with his vivid descriptions, but it was still a pleasant way to end the series with. We start our adventure again with a certain defeat, but that’s as repetitive as it goes. Instead, we focus on different relationships and characters this time, where Kellen can no longer abandon his duty to make choices. Once again, the reader falls in love with the wonderful, whimsical card illustrations in the book. I read it in the e-book format, but the actual physical copy I’ll buy in a few months has golden-sprayed edges. I’m saying all of this, because all of the Spellslinger covers are single masterpieces. Every part of it, front to back fits into the plot, and yet, the series are so underrated. Accompanied by a simple writing style that hooks you in from the beginning, De Castell has managed to overwhelm me for six books long. He throws away the trope of the chosen one, and morphs it into something greater: a witty trickster, whose enemies are physically stronger than him in every way. Kellen is never sure of his victory, but he sure outwits a lot of the villains on his path.

Spellslinger has always been strongly based on culture, religion and family, which lead to realism. In this particular web of lies and deception, there was no difference. It’s intimidating, what people will do for survival and legacy, but it’s also truth. De Castell has put the world we are familiar with in a high fantasy jacket, filled with memorable Argosi lessons. At the end of this series, you’ll feel as if you’re some sort of wise trickster yourself (thank you, maetri Ferius). The means don’t always justify the ends, and there is no right person to who one owns duty. A villain always has a villain on his own, and forgiveness is not the same as acceptance. Honestly, one of my favorite lessons was the one Kellen learned completely by himself. You don’t own anything to your family. You are who you make yourself to be, not who your upbringing decides you to be. It is not the family by blood that binds you, but the family you lean on by choice. And well, we all know Kellen had the most amazing companions one could ask for.

In the end, everything made sense from the first book to the last. All these surprising twists together formed such an incredible way to end this journey. Yes, I slightly predicted the initial outcome, but that simply meant growth for our characters. And surprisingly, there were more villains than I predicted. All of them were complicated, and due to the fast pace, I was left biting my nails in agony many times. None of these morally complex enemies knew what they were doing was wrong, and even though you don’t support them, you can see where they come from. You can see that if you wouldn’t have seen the story through Kellen’s perspective, he might have been the villain to you. That’s how you write a good one, and De Castell even managed to involve the delicate case of mental abuse into this. All in all, I won’t be leaving this world for a while.

Crownbreaker was my favorite book in the whole series, and can set 4 stars on his name. Every chapter ended with such a cliffhanger that it was impossible to put it down. Unlike many final books, it wasn’t confusing. In fact, we saw many reunions occur, where the previous books got summarized again. I did miss the occasional element of gore, which was necessary in the former books. Granted, the violent events were definitely gruesome. Apart from the hilarious humor, there was also some cutting-edge quality added to our major characters. Kellen finally starts using more different attacks other than the powders in his pocket. This also included his shadowblack enigmatism, although we unfortunately didn’t get an answer about the potential consuming darkness behind the markings. In the end, our hero did come to realize what he stands for, and what (or who) he wants to fight for. Yet, if De Castell made one thing obvious, it’s that the road to self-development never ends. It’s all about the journey, and well…a Path is infinite. So is the world of Spellslinger.

...more

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Dec 15, 2019 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, fantasy, review-copy, young-adult

4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/12/19/...

Crownbreaker is the ending to the Spellslinger series that fans have been waiting for. For six books now, we’ve been journeying along with Kellen Argos, a failed mage who has become so much more. But while it’s incredible to see how far he has come, how in many ways he is different from the boy he used to be, it’s also heartwarming to know in all the important ways he has not changed at all, that he is still the Kellen w 4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/12/19/...

Crownbreaker is the ending to the Spellslinger series that fans have been waiting for. For six books now, we’ve been journeying along with Kellen Argos, a failed mage who has become so much more. But while it’s incredible to see how far he has come, how in many ways he is different from the boy he used to be, it’s also heartwarming to know in all the important ways he has not changed at all, that he is still the Kellen we know and love. Likewise, the stories in these books have evolved, growing bigger in scope and conflict, but a lot of the themes have remained the same, an anchoring point for longtime fans of the series.

For one thing, Kellen is still on the run, and even in exile he’ll never be safe, because so long as he has a price on his head, he’ll always be hunted. Still, what if there is an opportunity to put an end to all that? For now, Kellen has made a comfortable enough home for himself in Darome, serving as a tutor and protector to the nation’s young queen. But his family are aware of where he is and what he has been doing, and an offer to come home with no questions asked is now on the table. That said, there is the matter of his strained relationship with his parents, and the even more complicated one with his sister. With the possibility of a war looming, however, he’ll have to consider all options, as loathsome as some of them might be. In order to protect his queen, Kellen has been tasked to do something drastic, something he finds reprehensible, and yet, the consequences of not carrying it out can mean an end to the empire.

So yeah, endings make me nervous. No matter much I love a series, if the final volume is disappointing, it can really leave a bad taste in your mouth and sour the whole experience. And on top of that, endings usually mean saying goodbye to characters who have lived in our hearts and our heads for so long, it’s almost feels like you are losing a friend, making it all the more important for an author to provide a good sendoff.

But boy, does Sebastien de Castell know how to do just that! First of all, Crownbreaker is like the ultimate reunion of sorts, gathering ‘round all the important figures who have made an impact on our protagonist’s life. I nearly jumped up and danced with joy to have our original trio of Kellen, Reichis, and Ferius Parfax back together again—damn, I missed that spunky Argosi. But of course, her reappearance also spells some dire news for Kellen, stirring up painful emotions and putting him in a tight spot. A certain Argosi named after a Rose also makes a return, as does a familiar young woman and her hyena, so you know the author isn’t messing around. I loved how so many things came full circle, the way I love my endings. There have been a couple books mid-series where I felt things had stalled, but looking back now, I see that the plan has been in place all along for all the pieces to come together.

More than this, I really can’t say because of all the revelations and various plotlines that come to fruition which are best left for the reader to discover for themselves. Suffice to say we’ve reached a point where all the tension, all the mystery and intrigue has built to a point which demands a resolution worthy of its conflict, and De Castell delivers. Granted, there were parts in the book where pacing flagged, but I saw this as the inevitable result of all the explanations required to bring answers and closure to many of Kellen’s problems like the Shadowblack, his family drama, the uncertain relationship he has with his own abilities as well as his past. After all these years, he thought he had made his peace with the injustices inflicted upon him, but a part of him still wants the life he was supposed to have, and I think these feelings play a major part in Crownbreaker which made this a very emotional book for me.

And speaking of emotional, it still amazes me how much Kellen has grown—and not only that, how much the series has matured along with him. Spellslinger, the first book, was distinctively YA, but by the time we get to Crownbreaker, the tone of the series has become more ambiguous, with elements that would appeal to both YA and adult readers. It’s brilliant, because it makes us feel like we grow with the character, watching Kellen develop from an awkward boy of fifteen, naively trying to game his way through his trials, to a worldly young adult who is the sum of all his experiences and the lessons he’s learned while being on the road. The brilliance also extends to the final postscript, which was surprising, different, and completely awesome.

So kudos to you, Mr. De Castell, for you’ve done it again! Thank you for the gift of the Spellslinger series, which you can be sure is now joining The Greatcoats quartet on my all-time favorites shelf. To fantasy fans, if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading this author, then you’re in for a treat, because if you’re into humor and action, genuine characters and richly imagined worlds, his stories have it all. ...more

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Oct 22, 2019 Pen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'll admit that I begrudgingly picked up Spellslinger when I was in a reading funk and looking for something light and short to try and trigger my reading momentum. 6 books later I can attest to the fact that it just might have worked as I quickly became a big fan of the series. From characters, to story, to narration to cover art, every book has kept me wanting more and this one was no exception.

A fun, well rounded, exceptionally paced and thoroughly entertaining series. I have zero hesitation ...more

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Nov 30, 2019 kartik narayanan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Crownbreaker is a fitting conclusion to a great series.

Spellslinger is one of those rare series of books that starts off strongly, maintains the quality and ends with a bang. Crownbreaker brings Kellen Argos's story arc to a satisfying conclusion and I love every moment of it.

This series is a must read. ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Nikki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio-books

Five stars. Always. 💙💙💙💙💙

I loved this so much. It felt like a perfect way to round out Kellen’s adventures so far, and to let us see the bigger picture that we’ve been glimpsing throughout when it comes to politics.

I really don’t want to spoil anything so I will say that I continue to love the people we knew, and really enjoyed some of the new characters we meet.

And Sebastien’s post script was perfect.

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Dec 06, 2019 Justin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: physical-bookshelf, pentalogy-and-beyond, fantasy, read-in-2019

Spoiler-FREE review of ‘Crownbreaker’

“The world has no use for a trickster once the final trick is played.”

description

5.0/5.0 I just spent the last week wanting to know what happens, but not wanting it to end. It has been a poetically problematic week for me to be honest.

The character growth throughout the start of the series has been amazing. I am not going to name any characters here in fear of spoiling anything throughout the series, suffice it to say, I found many different characters develop ...more

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Nov 13, 2019 Shree rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Goodbye 👋

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Feb 27, 2020 Yuri rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-need

4.5 stars (when are they finally going to add that option!)
A lot of banter and just such a fun read, I'm definitely going to miss Reichis and his sidekick.
Sebastien really nailed it. ...more

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Aug 22, 2020 Pris rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I’m a bit emotional 🥺🥺🥺

What an epic finale to one of the BEST YA Fantasy series out there. I love this world, the magic, the stories and it’s characters.

Reichis always, always the most 🥰🖤🥺

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Aug 05, 2019 Contrarius marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, i-don-t-have-it

Dammit, I have to wait til DECEMBER??

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Jul 17, 2020 Jude (NovelReader13) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: series, fantasy

Book after book, this series manages to strike the perfect balance between unapologetically escapist swashbuckling fun and deeply emotional and thouching character dynamics.
I loved every minute of it and am incredibly sad to say goodbye to some of my all time favourite book characters. Good thing re-reading is always an option, right?

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Dec 19, 2019 Mojo Shivers rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I’ve never read a six-part series. It’s such an odd number of books to base your series around. But I guess it makes sense given this series is based around somebody known for not being exceptionally good at a great many things. Yes, he’s technically a mage, but he only has one good spell, five enchanted coins, and some knowledge of how magic works for others. And he’s not really a fighter, given that Argosi fighting relies on deception and evasion and tricks. But he’s also not an Argosi sage ei ...more

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Jan 13, 2020 Rebecka O'Malley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewtocome, rebecka-recommends, following-the-author, 2020-reading-challenge

I will be writing a proper review once I have time to absorb everything I experienced not just with this book, but with this series. From the beginning this series has been dear to my heart, as I received the first book, Spellslinger, from my brother and best friend, Paul. He gave me an amazing two year journey that I will forever cherish.

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Oct 20, 2019 Dawn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Fantastic final book! Very satisfying ending; a few things i guessed correctly and others were surprising. I loved watching Kellen mature and grow in many ways over the course of the series. Ferius is one of my all-time fave characters and was brilliantly written throughout. And as for Reichis, who doesn’t love a snarky, eyeball-eating squirrel cat?

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Jan 12, 2020 kit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

perfect conclusion to this fun and nourishing series.

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Nov 07, 2019 Fiona rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am so sad to see this series end but it was so good! I am very happy with that ending.

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Jan 13, 2020 Sean Little rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Always rough to come to the end of a journey. I wasn't certain what to expect after de Castell finished the Greatcoats series and this series started, but after six books, I'm glad I went along for the ride. The series, which deviates from traditional fantasy by taking on an almost steampunky, Old West vibe, works through de Castell's brilliant characters and their relationships.

In this final go-round, the spellslinger Kellen finally has to step up and face down his father, a battle that has be ...more

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Dec 25, 2019 Duchess rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, madcap, paranormal-fantasy, audio-books, young-adult, fantasy-young-adult, 4-5-star-other-books, fave-author, funny, pets

I love this series to bits. Kellen is endearing and Reichis despite his murderous disposition is quite adorable.

It is actually hard to let go of a book that has been with me for the better part of 2019. I am glad I discovered it when the series is almost coming to a close else waiting will be a torment.

I listened to the audiobook instead of reading it which made it in my opinion 100 times better. Joe Jameson is one talented chap. This partnership with De Castell is a match made in heaven. Reich ...more

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Nov 13, 2019 Cham rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

"Home is a feeling. The memory of a warm bed. The voice of your parents calling you to breakfast. Home isn’t a roof or four walls. It’s not a place at all."

"Then he’ll remind himself that his own story is unfinished, and for all his flaws, for all his failures, both real and imagined, he, too, is so much more than the sum of his upbringing. So am I. So are you."

Endings are always bittersweet. I can't express how much this story made me happy. In here, I found a home with Kellen and Reichis (fic ...more

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Dec 14, 2019 Rivka rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

So I finished the Spellslinger series this weekend and my heart is so happy but also a little broken. I’ve been with these books for a while now and every one of them taught me something. I loved growing with Kellen and his business partner 😂 I’m always a bit worried going into the last book but Crownbreaker felt exactly like the rest of the series. And Post Script was absolutely incredible. Go read it. And let’s be honest. These covers don’t hurt either 😂 Thank you so much @sebastiendecastell f ...more

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Nov 07, 2019 Ankita Malakar rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved the entire series and I want a damned squirrel cat as well!!

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Dec 09, 2019 Frank Miceli rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Absolutely perfect ending to the series!!

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Nov 08, 2019 Einas Alhamali rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm not okay ...more

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Jun 27, 2020 Diana rated it liked it · review of another edition

I did enjoy the book and that it mainly revolved around family, by blood and chosen one; and the fact that we can be more than our upbringing, and the ideas our parents had or have of us don't have to be right, and we don't have to be molded on the person they want for us to be but who we really are.
Sometimes our growing up stunts us and we have to move from there. In that area, I am glad Kellen is broken, has phobies and is so utterly human.

This book has downsides, too. As much as I've loved Ke ...more

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Dec 17, 2019 A Silent Bookworm (Jessica Parker) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: spellslinger

I have enjoyed this entire series. Reichis has always been my favorite, but the chemistry the author puts on the page between Reichis, Kellan, and Ferius is magic on its own. I hope the Spellslinger world is revisited.

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Nov 04, 2019 Nicole rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-that-have-stuck-with-me, read-2019, five-stars, owned-read

I'm so deeply invested at this point that I don't even know where to start this review.

All I can really think of to say is that the postscript in it's entirety might be the single best ending to a series that I've ever read. ...more

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About Sebastien de Castell

Sebastien de Castell

3,363 followers

Hi Folks!

My tenth novel, CROWNBREAKER is in stores in around the world.

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 ...more

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Quotes from Crownbreaker

“His birthday comes in thirty-three days,' Ke'heops said. 'The viziers have already announced their gift; they will present him with the severed head of the blasphemous Queen Ginevra of Darome.'
…
'Who is he?'
…
'God.” — 0 likes

“How long've you been keeping this resignation letter in your pocket to blackmail me with?'
'Wrote it the day after I took the job.” — 0 likes

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Crownbreaker

(Spellslinger #6)

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