Ratings5
Average rating4
As unwanted, rebellious boys, they found refuge in Ironhall. . .Years later they emerged as the finest swordsmen in the realm--The Kings BladesOnce bound, a Blade's life is no longer his own. Only death can break the gilded chain of enchantment that binds the bodyguard to the man he is sworn to defend. And never in living memory has a candidate refused the honor of serving his king. . .until now.Young Wasp never intended to be a rebel. Yet, at the sacred ceremony of binding, he follows the lead of his friend Raider, and together they spurn the wishes of King Ambrose himself. Now Raider and Wasp are outlaws hunted by the very Blades whose ranks they were a breath away from entering, and joined together by a destiny that binds them more securely than any knot tradition and sorcery might tie. Amid the turmoil their "treachery" has inspired, Wasp and Raider must undertake a desperate journey into the heart of the dreaded Fire Lands. And the outcome of their terrifying confrontation with dark truth and darker magic in this realm of monsters, ghosts, and half-men will ultimately determine the fate of two kingdoms.
Series
8 primary booksThe King's Blades is a 7-book series with 7 primary works first released in 1998 with contributions by Dave Duncan.
Reviews with the most likes.
The first book in the series set a good pace for understanding the world and really gathering what a Blade is. Though this book, the second in the series, mostly involves a country that's at war with them, was so good! The Baels are a dynamic, honourable, and brutal people. I'm blown away by how much I enjoyed their society more than the Chivics. Except for the the Blades. Blades are pretty much like Jedi, without the Force. Badass swordsmen that are the best around. Even the weakest Blade is better than your average swordsman.
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That being said, this story went through a few different generations and really brought more understanding to the magic system and politics that Duncan has created. As much as I enjoyed the first book, this one makes me want to binge the rest of them. I'm surprised I don't hear more about this series, because it feels like a hidden gem.