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Greatcoats #0.6
A Study in Steel
The lesson begins...
Time and time again, sixteen-year-old Percevar has proven himself too craven and incompetent to wield a sword for the honour of his house. But when his half-sister Aline's life is threatened by the machinations of their unscrupulous relatives, Percevar must learn once and for all the lesson of the blade.
Time and time again, sixteen-year-old Percevar has proven himself too craven and incompetent to wield a sword for the honour of his house. But when his half-sister Aline's life is threatened by the machinations of their unscrupulous relatives, Percevar must learn once and for all the lesson of the blade.
- GenresFantasyShort Stories
40 pages, Unknown Binding
Published November 1, 2021
About the author
Sebastien de Castell
57 books5,069 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 - 5 of 5 reviews
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March 8, 2022A brilliant short story, loved it.
June 9, 2022
This little gem of a short story from the Greatcoats Hall of fame is set before the events of the Traitor's Blade, a little background story on King Paelis daughter Aline being raised by her mother Lady Tiarren after being born of adultery. But suspicions come about who her real father is and she faces the dangers of being the kings heir. Her older half-brother sixteen-year-old Percevar who loves her to bits has proven himself too craven and incompetent to wield a sword for the honour of his house. But when his half-sister Aline’s life is threatened by the machinations of their unscrupulous relatives, Percevar must learn once and for all the lesson of the blade. Absolutely brilliant little tale, for all lovers of the Greatcoats series check it out. Highly recommended...😁🗡💙🔥
March 14, 2025
4.1 stars.
July 3, 2025
This story takes place before "Traitor's Blade" first book in The Greatcoats series. We meet a young Percevar, a bit of a coward & lackluster in his sword fighting, who is the older brother of Aline. When their family decides that Aline has become too much of an embarrassment to the family & decide to remove her. Does Percevar have what it takes to protect her? It took me a bit to see where this story was going & Percevar has very similar traits to Kellen from the "Spellslinger" series. I really enjoyed it & seeing what a devious mind Aline has which sets her up for her destiny. You don't necessarily have to have read "Traitor's Blade" to enjoy this, but it would help. I'll continue to read anything de Castell chooses to write.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews