Paragon Lost: A Chronicle of the King's Blades

My wife and I are both Dave Duncan fans. Our favorites have been his Seventh Sword and Man of His Word series, and they both rank high on my reading list for all fantasy authors. Paragon Lost ranks up there with any of Duncan's previous works. It is a big-time get-lost-in-the-time-warp page-turner. Great characters, fast-moving and unpredictable plot, set in an interesting, consistent world. As always, Duncan's characters are believable, flawed (human) but lovable. They move you as you read. Well worth getting in hardback.

I have been a fan of The King's Blades series since it's start. The characters are very real, and the plots are a few notches above the plots in most of the fantasy books on the market. In fact I would say that the plots are better than just about any book out there. The wind and turn and keep you guessing. And this book sets itself apart from the others in the series with the creation of a truly likeable hero. The kind that makes you cheer outloud. Sir Beaumont, the best swordsman in the world. And yet, he never resorts to the sword but his cleverness and, yes, more guts than any human being has any right to have. This is fantasy after all. The type of guy to walk right into a trap the villains have set. And make it work against them. And above all, a man of his word. What more could you ask for?

Here is the latest in the wonderful Blade series by Dave Duncan. The whole idea of the Blade series is beautifully concieved and each 'chronicle' has enriched the legend. This new one is the best by far. The hero, Beaumont, is the most interesting Blade so far. There are continuing characters and situations. I love the Baels for one example. You will too. They are here in all their Baelish splendor. Get it now--if you have not read the others get them too. They do not have to be read in order but it helps. I was a great fan of Patrick Obrien and this is the sword and sorcery equivalent. Why are you still reading this--order the BOOK!!!

What a brilliant read. This matches Duncan's first in this loosely connected series, 'The Gilden Chain', one of my top 5 fantasy reads. This book is stylish, witty and immediately engaging. Fabulous characters, intense plotting, superb narrative construction with some truly gorgeous prose. Run, don't walk, to get this. And if you haven't read 'The Gilded Chain' shame on you ... rectify the omission immediately!

Every King needs guards that are loyal to and willing to give up their lives in service to his majesty. In the kingdom of Chivial, the king's Blades are bound to their liege through a secret magical spell and to whomever the king binds them to as well. Sir Beaumont is the Blade with the best skills and is an excellent planner. His schemes are always successful, a trait that irritates his king.Beau is bound by King Athlegar to Wasseil for the trip to Skyrria whose ruler Czar Igor is a madman willing to do anything to learn the binding spell for the king's blades. Beau uses chicanery and sleight of hand to successfully complete his mission and the king, instead of being grateful, dismisses Beau from his services.This is an excellent swords and sorcery fantasy starring a protagonist who is right so much of the time, it is easy to see why he grates on the King's nerves. Skyrria feels like czarist Russia as a place where everyone has a hidden agenda, spellbound dogs are killing Igor's enemies and the people are afraid to say a word for fear of being killed. Chivial is too tame for the likes of Beau and it is hoped that he will appear in another king's Blade adventure living in a place like Skyrria.Harriet Klausner