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Greatcoats #5.2
Dance of the Chamberlain
The dance begins...
When seemingly supernatural events intrude upon the King’s Law, one man is entrusted with uncovering the truth and seeing justice done. But can even Estevar Borros explain the chamberlain dancing in a palace ballroom two weeks after his death?
This novelette features the first exciting adventure of a new duelling magistrate of the legendary Greatcoats!
When seemingly supernatural events intrude upon the King’s Law, one man is entrusted with uncovering the truth and seeing justice done. But can even Estevar Borros explain the chamberlain dancing in a palace ballroom two weeks after his death?
This novelette features the first exciting adventure of a new duelling magistrate of the legendary Greatcoats!
42 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2021
289 people want to read
About the author
Sebastien de Castell
54 books5,045 followersHi Folks!
My eighteenth novel, MALEVOLENT EIGHT 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 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 villain whose secrets could unleash a civil war!
My sixteenth novel is CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!
My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!
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 on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way.
Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com
My eighteenth novel, MALEVOLENT EIGHT 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 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 villain whose secrets could unleash a civil war!
My sixteenth novel is CRUCIBLE OF CHAOS. Estevar Borros is my favourite swashbuckling investigator of the supernatural, so come investigate alongside him and his dauntless mule, Imperious inside a mysterious abbey where the gods seem to be driving the monks mad!
My fifteenth novel is FATE OF THE ARGOSI. The Argosi series is one of my favourites and I hope you'll come along for Ferius Parfax's adventures!
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 on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he actually hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. His only defence against the charge of unbridled dilettantism is that he genuinely likes doing these things and that, in one way or another, each of these fields plays a role in his writing. He sternly resists the accusation of being a Renaissance Man in the hopes that more people will label him that way.
Sebastien's acclaimed swashbuckling fantasy series, The Greatcoats. was shortlisted for both the 2014 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy. the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut, the Prix Imaginales for Best Foreign Work, and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His YA fantasy series, Spellslinger, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and is published in more than a dozen languages.
Sebastien lives in Vancouver, Canada with his lovely wife and two belligerent cats. You can reach him at www.decastell.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 8, 2021
LOVE Estovar and the expansion of the lore and the events of Book 3 we get in this story.
October 29, 2023
At 42 pages, there’s only so much you can do with a tale of a new Greatcoat character. The premise is interesting enough but it’s not a head scratching who dunnit after a while.
Reading the authors note at the end is interesting as this story appeared to be a new way for him to try out this story from a very basic premise and allow the story and character to emerge from there.
Worth a read if you’re a greatcoats fan.
Reading the authors note at the end is interesting as this story appeared to be a new way for him to try out this story from a very basic premise and allow the story and character to emerge from there.
Worth a read if you’re a greatcoats fan.
July 17, 2021
(4.5/5 stars)
Sebastien de Castell’s Greatcoats series is one of my all-time favourite fantasy series - I can’t say enough good things about it, and think it’s criminally under appreciated! So here I was, not-so-patiently waiting for ‘Play of Shadows’ to come out, when I was excited to discover that Sebastien had just released two new short stories set in the Greatcoats world.
Estevar Borros is awesome - some sort of fantastic combination or Hercule Poirot and Geralt of Rivia, wandering detective meets paranormal investigator. He was humorous, charming, and very intelligent. I think it said on Castell’s website that he had written three stories involving Estevar, and if so, I’m in! My fingers are crossed we might get a cameo appearance or two in one of Castell’s future novels.
Now I’m going to go read the next one!
Sebastien de Castell’s Greatcoats series is one of my all-time favourite fantasy series - I can’t say enough good things about it, and think it’s criminally under appreciated! So here I was, not-so-patiently waiting for ‘Play of Shadows’ to come out, when I was excited to discover that Sebastien had just released two new short stories set in the Greatcoats world.
Estevar Borros is awesome - some sort of fantastic combination or Hercule Poirot and Geralt of Rivia, wandering detective meets paranormal investigator. He was humorous, charming, and very intelligent. I think it said on Castell’s website that he had written three stories involving Estevar, and if so, I’m in! My fingers are crossed we might get a cameo appearance or two in one of Castell’s future novels.
Now I’m going to go read the next one!
June 9, 2022
Another cracking short story from the Greatcoats adventures, set after the events of Tyrant's Throne. This little beauty will have you laughing your socks off. Sebastian De Castell storytelling is truly amazing and this novelette features the first exciting adventure of a new duelling magistrate of the legendary Greatcoats the King’s Crucible, Estevar Borros is the only Greatcoat ever given the assignments to investigate supernatural events throughout the country. When Estevar is called to investigate the unusual circumstances of a murdered chamberlain, but when he arrives to find the chamberlain dancing and still hanging in a palace ballroom two weeks after his death. He must find out who the culprit is and a trial will hopefully reveal the guilty. Absolutely brilliant, highly recommend...😁🔥💙🗡
September 27, 2024
Audiobook listen. I was a little concerned that this had a different narrator to the main stories as I think he (Joe Jameson is an incredible voice actor and he nails Falcon, Kent and Brastils voices). I need not have been concerned as this short story does not have any characters from the main books and the narrator (Chris Humphrys) is excellent and his voice really fits the character.
The story is an enjoyable murder mystery but I found the explanation of how it was solved (and carried out to a lesser extent) was a stretch. The build up was great but the conclusion a bit lacking. The narrator helped the enjoyability as he brought the characters to life. This probably would have been rounded down to a 3 rating if it were not for that.
The story is an enjoyable murder mystery but I found the explanation of how it was solved (and carried out to a lesser extent) was a stretch. The build up was great but the conclusion a bit lacking. The narrator helped the enjoyability as he brought the characters to life. This probably would have been rounded down to a 3 rating if it were not for that.
July 28, 2021
Wonderful short story, really enjoyed this one.
October 16, 2023
4.5 stars
A Poirot story in the middle of my swashbuckling fantasy!? I loved it. Estevar is my new favorite Greatcoat.
A Poirot story in the middle of my swashbuckling fantasy!? I loved it. Estevar is my new favorite Greatcoat.
April 16, 2025
4.0 stars.
November 15, 2023
A murder mystery adds to the stories of the Greatcoats. Hope we readers get more.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews