SOLVED. Fantasy. travelling actor / stage magician (possibly called The Great Jordan) gets hired to impersonate a Prince (who is also a real fire magician/wizard), as part of a succession plot for dead king. Jordan's bodyguard called Sir Gawain. [s]

[Michael]

- Fantasy setting
- 3/4 brothers all with an elemental magic ability (earth, wind, fire etc.)
- All reside in some sort of castle that is also a magical artefact, responsible for keeping some sort of alternate realm (possibly one where the dead reside) separate from the normal realm
- King is dead, leading to succession drama / plotting amongst brothers
- Travelling Actor / Stage magician (I think called the Great Jordan) is hired by the prince with fire magic to impersonate him during the succession plots/negotiations as he is unwell / fearing assassination
- Fire prince sends his bodyguard Sir Gawain to hire and escort Jordan to castle. On the way they fight a skeleton that rises from a barrow
- General setting is fantasy / horror - lots of creepy interactions with the alternate realm, as well as brothers (eldritch horrors)
- One brother interested in experimenting / exploiting the alternate realm

[Becca]

Blood and Honor by Simon R. Green, second book in the Forest Kingdom series, looks like a match

[Michael]

Becca wrote: "Blood and Honor by Simon R. Green, second book in the Forest Kingdom series, looks like a match"

You hero - that's the one! Thanks so much.

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Michael.

Blood and Honor (book 2) of the Forest Kingdom series by Simon R. Green - Becca's find.